Australia vs. New Zealand Betting Tips: Mitchell Santner a great price to take two wickets

Old rivals Australia and New Zealand meet in the World Cup at Dharamshala on Saturday at 6am BST. Cricket aficionado Matt Banks has previewed the clash for us, providing his two best bets for the action.

We’re into the business end of the group stage of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and both New Zealand and Australia are well placed to qualify for the semi-finals. The Blackcaps got off to a great start, winning four on the spin to start the tournament before losing last time out to India. Australia on the other hand started with two losses, getting comfortably beaten by South Africa and India, before finding their form and winning their next three, including a record 309-run drubbing of the Netherlands.

It looked as if the Aussies could be in for a long tournament after their first two games, but they have shown real resilience to fight back, and now with Travis Head returning to their top-order they could be a genuine contender to win the tournament. The Kiwis have been excellent, thanks mostly to Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway scoring buckets of runs, while Mitch Santner and Trent Boult have impressed with the ball. This Antipodean matchup should be an absolute barnstormer.

While New Zealand have been impressive with the bat, it’s been their middle order that have scored the bulk of the runs and their opening partnership only accounts for 128 runs at 25.60 so far in the tournament. Australia on the other hand, have relied on top-order runs and David Warner and Mitch Marsh are in fine form.

If Travis Head returns to the side he will likely open the batting, where he averages 50.61 in 25 innings and has been in incredible touch over the past 18 months. If Warner and Head really get going, they could take the game away from the Kiwis.

Mitch Santner has always been a reliable spin option for New Zealand and has really made the most of the conditions during this World Cup, taking 12 wickets so far.

He bowls a nagging line and length and gives it a rip, and should cause the Australian middle order some problems. For him to take two wickets to be on the right side of evens is great value.