West Indies v New Zealand: Prediction, Tips and Odds

New Zealand are under pressure after a heavy defeat to Afghanistan in their T20 World Cup opener and they face in-form tournament co-hosts the West Indies in Trinidad on Thursday.

West Indies v New Zealand betting tips and predictions

Nicholas Pooran to Score Most 6s for West Indies @ 11/4

The West Indies are renowned for their batting power in T20I cricket and Nicholas Pooran, their most reliable six-hitter, could deliver the goods against the Black Caps in Trinidad.

Thursday's Group C fixture takes place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba and Pooran, like Lara, is a Trinidadian left-hander with a breathtaking array of shots.

He scored 27 and 22 in the Windies' wins over Papua New Guinea and Uganda, with 30 of his 49 runs in those innings coming in sixes.

Pooran looks a worthy favourite to hit the most sixes for his side against the Black Caps, who lost the maximums battle 9-1 in their opening defeat to Afghanistan.

The number three finished a productive IPL season for Lucknow Super Giants with scores of 48 not out, 61 and 75 in May, clearing the ropes 13 times in those three knocks.

He continued in the same vein in the T20 World Cup warm-up game against Australia in Port-of-Spain, where he smashed eight sixes in an astonishing 25-ball 75.

Pooran has featured in all four previous T20 internationals in Tarouba, helping himself to eight sixes in four innings and that local knowledge should come in handy on Thursday.

West Indies Runs at Fall of First Wicket - Under 20 @ 11/10

New Zealand are desperate for a positive response to their drubbing by Afghanistan, whose openers put on 103 against the Black Caps.

Veteran fast bowler Trent Boult finished with the respectable figures of 2-22 from four overs and he could make an early breakthrough in Tarouba.

West Indies opener Brandon King was dismissed for nought and three in December's T20I games against England at the venue, where visiting left-armer Reece Topley caused serious problems with the new ball.

King made 28 in the previous Tarouba T20 against India in August 2023 but the other three openers in that game made one, six and three.

Boult took 12 Powerplay wickets for Rajasthan Royals in this year's IPL, more than any other bowler in the tournament, so backing the Windies to lose their first wicket before the score reaches 20 is an appealing bet.

Gudakesh Motie Over 1.5 Match Wickets @ 6/4

West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein was the architect of their rout of Uganda, who were bowled out for just 39 in Guyana on Saturday.

Hosein took 5-11 in four overs, but fellow spinner Gudakesh Motie has also impressed in his recent T20 appearances for the tournament co-hosts.

Motie took 1-6 in two overs against Uganda and 1-24 in the opening win over Papua New Guinea, having dismissed Australia's Josh Inglis and Tim David in the warm-up fixture.

He was outstanding in May's 3-0 series clean sweep against South Africa, claiming 3-25, 3-22 and 2-21, and he is worth backing to pick up two or more wickets against the Kiwis.

Motie enjoyed his most recent T20 in Tarouba, getting rid of England's Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone and Harry Brook in a player of the match performance in December - he should trouble an undercooked New Zealand batting unit.

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West Indies v New Zealand odds

West Indies - 4/7
New Zealand - 11/8

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.