Cricket Betting: Series round-up

ENGLAND are 2.72 on Betfair to win the three-Test series against New Zealand after drawing level following a comprehensive victory at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Monday.

Michael Vaughan's men, who had been largely written off after a humiliating defeat in the first Test at Hamilton, hit back in style with a 126-run victory.

New Zealand are out to 4.9 although a drawn series is favourite at 2.06 because the venue for the final match, at Napier's McLean Park, is expected to be a dream to bat on with bowlers struggling to take 20 wickets.

At least England should not lose the series, however, as they finally showed that they were man-for-man a better team than the Kiwis.

There is still work for England to do, however. In the field they were sloppy, dropping six catches and Tim Ambrose missed a rudimentary stumping.

Captain Vaughan was all smiles, however, preferring to focus on the performances of bowlers Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson, who played in favour of the more experienced Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard.

He said: "Jimmy Anderson in the first innings was outstanding and I thought Stuart Broad's spell on Sunday afternoon was very impressive for a 21-year-old.
"That's not to say Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison aren't going to try and push to get back into the team.
"But the two lads who came in did very well and offered us a bit of pace which was a little bit lacking in Hamilton."

New Zealand are expected to recall spinner Jeetan Patel for the final Test although there is a doubt over opener Matthew Bell's place.