Morgan setback not enough to knock England T20 chances in New Zealand

England emerged triumphant by a 40 run margin in their first T20 match in New Zealand, and as such are afforded 8/13 favouritism for the upcoming second tie.

And whilst the Three Lions may face a stiffer test in the possible absence of Eoin Morgan, they can still wrap up the series with a game to spare in Hamilton.

Hosts New Zealand can be backed as 5/4 chances to give the third game of the series some meaning, after hitting 174 runs at the expense of nine wickets in the opener.

15 sixes emanated from an impressive English batting display in the first of this series though, with the away side finishing with a record 214-run haul.

Thus, the visitors look a good call to hit the most sixes in this match at 4/6.

And a steady start to proceedings should be expected from England too, meaning markets regarding the first over of the match should not be overlooked.

England, who scored six runs in the opening over of the Auckland tie, are 8/11 to again hit more than 5.5 runs from their first six balls here.

Whilst Morgan’s importance to the side should not be underestimated, given his total of 46 runs from 26 balls in this week’s tie, England’s strength in depth should please patriotic punters.

The middle-order Middlesex man has not been ruled out of action just yet anyway, and will undergo a late fitness test prior to England’s attempt to justify their favouritism.

Should he fail that examination of a back injury, Yorkshire’s Joe Root is ready to fill in.

And he will be part of an England side that is 10/11 to win the toss, something they failed to do in the first T20.

Those believing the hosts will win the toss for the second time in succession can back them at 10/11 also.

Meanwhile, a bet on the time of the first New Zealand fall of wicket could prove fruitful, given the impressive form of Steven Finn and Stuart Broad in the opening clash.

Broad claimed the hosts’ first wicket at the 18-run mark in that tie, and it is a tempting 5/6 that New Zealand’s first batsman is again dismissed before scoring 19.5 runs.

Another interesting market concerns how many individual wickets England’s in-form bowling duo will take in this match, with Broad 7/4 to dismiss over 1.5 batsmen.

Finn is 6/4 to do the same, after claiming three wickets in the opening series match.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.