New Zealand to bounce back with a World Cup win over Sri Lanka

New Zealand (-450) and Sri Lanka (+333) meet in Match 41 of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup on Thursday. The Black Caps need the win to try and ensure themselves a place in the top four and the semi-final. Sri Lanka are out of the World Cup. But the Lions know that a top-eight finish guarantees them a place at the 2025 Champions Trophy, making this far from a dead rubber for the 1996 World Cup winners. In our latest cricket betting picks, we look ahead to the match and tell you what the best bets to make are.

  • What; 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup
  • Who; New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka – Match 41
  • Where; M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India
  • When; Thursday, November, 9th 2023

No time for mistakes

It’s now crunch time at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. For the first half of the World Cup, New Zealand looked a near certainty to be in the top four. The Black Caps started with four successive wins but have since gone on to score four successive defeats. A fifth loss against Sri Lanka could be curtains for their 2023 World Cup campaign and would represent a spectacular capitulation on the part of the Kiwis.

Even a win for the Black Caps might not be enough, as Pakistan and Afghanistan could still pip them to the fourth spot. But it would take an almighty turnaround in the net run rates to see the Kiwis eliminated. If they lose to Sri Lanka though, all bets are off, and a place in the semi-final is really up for grabs.

As for Sri Lanka, they are already out of the competition. All they have left to play for is a place in the top eight, which would secure one of the places at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Officially, only the top seven qualify, along with hosts Pakistan. But as Pakistan is guaranteed a place in the top seven, eighth place in the group will secure the final spot.

At the moment, England and the Netherlands are competing with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for the final two places.

Betting to win the 2023 Cricket World Cup

India (-120) are through to the next stage, and barring something extraordinary happening, they will be joined by South Africa (+400) and Australia (+333). Fourth place in the group isn’t so certain. New Zealand (+900), Pakistan (+2500), and Afghanistan (+12500) are all in contention.

AustraliaTo win 2023 Cricket World Cup
★★★★★
+333
Bet now

India has been the favorite throughout the competition, and they have won every match they have played so far. They have one group match remaining, against the Netherlands on Sunday. It would be the biggest shock of the whole competition if the Dutch could stop India from sweeping the group with nine wins from nine.

New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka Match Betting

The best cricket betting sites aren’t giving Sri Lanka much of a chance of winning this match. Kusal Mendis and his team are +333 to put another dent in New Zealand’s chances of making the semi-final and winning the World Cup for the first time in their history. Kane Williamson’s New Zealand are massive favorites at -450.

More match-winner betting options are available on our cricket odds table. For more details on the cricket sites we have used, please check out our best sportsbook sign-up bonuses page.

New Zealand vs. Sri LankaBovadaBetOnline ReviewBetUS Review
New Zealand-450-500-450
Sri Lanka+333+333+325

New Zealand out to end four-match losing streak

New Zealand’s confidence must have taken an almighty knock in the four successive defeats. Without ever really looking like winning, they lost to India by four wickets in Match 21. The five-run defeat to Australia in Match 27 must have been a real sickener after coming so close to scoring the 389 they needed to win. Then, in Match 32, they were simply blown away by South Africa.

But the real kick in the teeth came in the 21-run loss to Pakistan in Match 35. Having scored 401/6, the Black Caps must have felt they were sure to win. But when rain ended the match early, Pakistan were 200/1 from 25.3 overs. This put them ahead with the DLS Method used to settle rain-affected matches, and it meant another defeat for Kane Williamson’s team.

If that match had reached a natural conclusion, New Zealand probably would have won. They will need to put that defeat out of their minds quickly, as they can’t afford any more mishaps against Sri Lanka.

History made by Angelo Mathews (for the wrong reasons)

As for Sri Lanka, they will be spitting feathers after their 3-wicket loss to Bangladesh on Monday. In that loss, Lions’ batter and former captain Angelo Mathews suffered the indignity of becoming the first player in the history of the game to be timed out. Something that incensed the team, as they felt it wasn’t in the spirit of the game.

Our Picks

Mathews is +600 to be the top Sri Lankan batter against New Zealand, and even though he will claim to be the victim of a poor call, the former skipper must know deep down he was at fault. So for our first betting pick, we are going with Angelo Mathews to be the top Sri Lanka batter at +600.

Angelo MathewsTo be top Sri Lanka Batter
★★★★★
+600
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For our match-winner pick, we are making New Zealand the call. The Black Caps need the win, and if this was anything other than a crucial World Cup match, we feel they would win with plenty to spare. New Zealand needs to focus on the positives. They’ve just scored over 400 in 50 overs. Despite the recent losses, they are in good form and only need to play somewhere near that level to beat Sri Lanka.

New ZealandTo beat Sri Lanka
★★★★★
-450
Bet now

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Dean Etheridge

Dean is a general all-around sports enthusiast, but primarily he is a fan of English football and cricket. An experienced writer, Dean has been practicing his trade for over 15 years, first writing for his own publications, and latterly MyTopSportsbooks, and various other sports betting websites. Dean has extended his writing skills in recent years and now covers various other sports including Formula 1, darts, boxing, snooker, tennis, and golf. In his spare time, he enjoys days out at football and cricket with his family and friends.