West Indies vs New Zealand T20 World Cup Odds, Prediction & Picks: Will the Blackcaps Strike Back?

New Zealand have made the semifinals of each of the last three Men’s T20 World Cups, but if the Blackcaps are to have a chance to make a fourth straight semifinal, a win tonight over the West Indies is a bare minimum requirement.

New Zealand have yet to win an ODI or T20 World Cup, but they are typically in the running to do so. In addition to going deep in each of the previous three T20 World Cups, they have made at least the semifinals in each of the last five ODI World Cups.

But after opening this year’s T20 World Cup with an 84-run loss to Afghanistan, the Blackcaps face an uphill climb to reach the Super 8s.

T20 World Cup Group C Table

• Afghanistan – 4 points (Net Run Rate: 5.225)
• West Indies – 4 (NRR: 3.574)
• Uganda – 2 (NRR: -4.217)
• Papua New Guinea – 0 (NRR: -0.434)
• New Zealand – 0 (NRR: -4.200)

Both Afghanistan, who finish up with PNG tomorrow and the West Indies next Monday, and the West Indies are in strong positions.

From here, the only way that the Blackcaps can reach the Super 8s is if they can overhaul their net run rate deficit while finishing on six points with Afghanistan and the West Indies or if West Indies fail to win their final two games.

The first part of that equation will take place tonight at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, which will play host to four of the five remaining Group C matches.

West Indies vs New Zealand Odds

West Indies vs New Zealand cricket odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on the tournament there.

Moneyline

• West Indies -155
• New Zealand +135

Will New Zealand Deny the West Indies a Third Straight Win?

In last Friday’s tournament opener against Afghanistan, New Zealand were set a reachable target of 160. However, they were skittled out for just 75 in 15.2 overs. Defeat would have been disappointing, but to lose in such a manner was the worst possible way to begin the tournament. From here, New Zealand have next to no margin for error. Otherwise, they may exit at the earliest possible hurdle in a T20 World Cup for the first time ever and in any World Cup for the first time since the 1987 ODI World Cup.

Can they pull off a rescue mission from here? It will require some help, but it all starts with doing their part.

Entering the tournament, the Blackcaps were not one of the leading favorites according to T20 World Cup futures odds. Still, they have the talent to make some noise in the tournament, led by captain Kane Williamson.

They can be heartened by the fact that the West Indies didn’t exactly dominate against PNG in their opener, however. The tournament co-hosts needed 19 overs to chase down a target of 137 with five wickets to spare.

You never know what you are going to get with the West Indies. Even in a home tournament, there’s only so much confidence you can have in them to get the job done.

They do appear to have it a bit more together than New Zealand at the moment, but the betting value is with the Blackcaps, and I’m taking the optimistic view that the manner of their defeat to Afghanistan will be a galvanizing kick in the teeth.

West Indies vs New Zealand Prediction: New Zealand to win

West Indies vs New Zealand Picks: New Zealand ML (+135 at BetOnline)