New Zealand v Australia Second T20 Tips: 7/1 Chapman to star

• Kiwis cut not right

• Advantage chaser

• Chapman reliable

New Zealand v Australia
Friday 23 February, 06.10
TV: Live on TNT

New Zealand v Australia Second T20 team news

New Zealand failed to defend 215 in game one as their death bowlers missed their yorkers. Should Tim Southee and Adam Milne be so wayward under pressure? Maybe one but not both. Not good enough.

That could open up an opportunity for pacer Ben Sears to get a game. It may be the Kiwis need some reinforecements come the World Cup in this department.

Changes to the batting look unlikely with Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra brilliantly carefree.

Possible XI: Conway, Allen, Ravindra, Phillips, Chapman, Clarkson, Santner, Southee, Sodhi, Ferguson, Milne

Australia revelled in their strength in depth, pairing Travis Head and David Warner as openers and using Josh Inglis as a finisher. Their other finisher - they have three with Matt Short also in the XI - won them the game with Tim David hitting the last ball for four.

Are they learning anything about Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc at this stage? Not as a trio. One or two will surely come out for Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson at some stage with two games to go.

Possible XI: Warner, Head, M Marsh, Maxwell, Inglis, David, Short, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Zampa

New Zealand v Australia Second T20 pitch report

Eden Park has a reputation for big runs thanks to New Zealand's 226 against Pakistan in January and a tie at 196 (v Sri Lanka) last April. It's not justified over a longer study period, however. In nine from 14 of the first-innings not affected by rain the score has come in under 175.5.

The par line may be set higher than that. It could be a short but we do have to be aware that some rain is around so the innings runs market will be settled even if overs are reduced. Ten have been won by the side batting second from 15 and there have been two ties.

New Zealand v Australia Second T20 match odds

New Zealand were 2.789/5 for game one. They've been cut to 2.6213/8. We are most definitely not on board with that.

For a start, the toss bias doesn't suit their preferred option for batting first. Secondly, we can't justify shorter odds for a team which threw away a winning position. Southee is a liability too often for a man of his experience.

if we are to play this market then we'll look for decent options on the Aussies in a chase. Anything from 1.855/6 fits the bill.

New Zealand v Australia Second T20 player bets

It might be time to revist Glenn Maxwell for runs. The all-star smashed a brilliant ton against the West Indies two games ago and we know that he has a win rate of [25%. Alas he's cut from 11/26.50 to 7/24.50 and that's tough to stomach.

For the Kiwis we keep faith with Mark Chapman. He has five wins in 24. We're taking the 7/18.00 that Sportsbook offer (a cut from 8/19.00 for game one) and are encouraged by him carding at No 5.

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