New Zealand vs England 1st T20 Match Tips

Teams won 3 and 4 of the last 5 games. England also won 5 of the previous 7 h2h clashes. England to win.

England are favourites, but New Zealand’s home advantage at Hagley Oval and England’s rotation risk make 2.30 attractive. The market underrates Kiwi win equity. A live underdog with situational value.

Buttler (8.00) benefits from Hagley’s chase bias and his Wicketkeeper/Captain role multiplier. A high-impact opening score, plus dismissals, offers significant EV compared to the market pricing.

Sam Curran has taken 11 wickets in his last 5 T20Is and contributed vital runs down the order. His ability to swing the ball early and bowl at the death makes him a dual threat. On New Zealand pitches, his left-arm variation has proven effective, giving him match-winning potential.

Jos Buttler in his last 10 games for England has managed to get a total of 334 runs with a batting average of 33.4.

Harry Brook has scored 312 runs in his last 6 T20Is at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 155. Against New Zealand in 2023, he hit 67 off 36 balls. With England’s top order reshuffling, Brook’s aggressive middle-order role positions him to dominate the scoring.