India looks way too good for Afghanistan, but can the Kiwis cement their semi-final spot?

The New Zealanders can stamp their authority on the World Cup, while powerhouse India can re-confirm its status as one of the competition top dogs in the latest doubleheader. BETTING GUIDE

Sri Lanka did the World Cup a massive favour with its magnificent upset win against England. Is there another twist tonight?

India and New Zealand have the chance to cement their semi-final spots while the West Indies cling to very, very slim hopes of progressing through the preliminary rounds.

We know how good India is. It’s time the Kiwis stepped it up a gear.

There’s a lot to like about NZ — an extremely well balanced bowling attack, one of the best fielding teams in the world and a batting line-up of class (Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor), depth (No. 8 Mitchell Santner has an ODI batting average of 28.2) and power (Colin de Grandhomme).

Importantly, the Black Caps have won both their close games against Bangladesh and South Africa. England is yet to show such nerve.

If we’re being picky, Williamson’s side would like to see Taylor among the runs and opening bowler Trent Boult swinging the ball.

THE DETAILS

INDIA v AFGHANISTAN

SATURDAY, JUNE 22, SOUTHAMPTON, 7.30PM (AEST)

World ODI rankings: India 2 (rating 123), Afghanistan 10 (rating 61)

Southampton weather forecast: sunny, 19C

TAB odds: India $1.03, Afghanistan $12

TV: Every match of the World Cup is LIVE and ad-break free during play on Fox Sports or live stream on Kayo Sports.

NEW ZEALAND v WEST INDIES

SATURDAY, JUNE 22, OLD TRAFFORD, 10.30PM (AEST)

World ODI rankings: New Zealand 3 (rating 116), West Indies 8 (78)

Manchester weather forecast: sunny intervals, 21C

TAB odds: New Zealand $1.62, West Indies $2.35

TV: Every match of the World Cup is LIVE and ad-break free during play on Fox Sports or live stream on Kayo Sports.

New Zealand will rely heavily on the swing bowling of Trent Boult.

SUGGESTED BETS

2 units on Kuldeep Yadav to take the most wickets for India at $4.60.

Afghanistan doesn’t play spin well. Australia’s Adam Zampa returned his best World Cup figures (3-60) against the Afghanis in their opening game. Kuldeep only has three wickets this tournament, but he looked to have turned the corner with an impressive 2-32 off nine overs against Pakistan in his last match.

TAB odds (most wickets for India tonight): Jasprit Bumrah 44; Mohammad Shami $4.30; Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar $4.40; Kuldeep Yadav $4.60; Ravindra Jadeja $5.50; Hardik Pandya $6; Vijay Shankar $11.

1 unit on Rohit Sharma to top score for India at $3.

Very short odds, but Sharma is all class. I’ll like this wager more if India bats second in pursuit of a modest total.

TAB odds (most runs for India tonight): Rohit Sharma $3; Virat Kohli $3.50; KL Rahul $3.75; Rishabh Pant $7.50; MS Dhoni $9.50; Dinesh Karthik $11; Hardik Pandya, Vijay Shankar $13; Kedar Jadhav $15; Ravindra Jadeja $51.

1 unit on Lockie Ferguson to take the most wickets for NZ at $4.25.

I’m a big Trent Boult fan, but he’s not swinging the ball as we know he can. Ferguson has 11 wickets from four matches and is striking at the ridiculous rate of a wicket every 19 balls.

TAB odds (most wickets for NZ tonight): Trent Boult $4; Lockie Ferguson $4.25; Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee $4.50; Mitchell Santner $5; James Neesham $7; Colin de Grandhomme $8.50.

Kane Williamson was at his absolute best with a century against South Africa.

THE WASH-UP

Game 27: England v Sri Lanka

2 units on Jofra Archer to take the most wickets for England at $3.50.

Archer took 3-52, but was forced to share the honours with Mark Wood (a $4.25 chance) who snared 3-40

1 unit on Jonny Bairstow to make 50 runs and England to win at $2.40.

Doh! Bairstow registered his second duck for the tournament.

1 unit on Dimuth Karunaratne to top score for Sri Lanka at $3.75.

Karunaratne (1) was out early. Angelo Mathews ($6) ended a run of three single-figure scores with an unbeaten 85.

TOURNAMENT BALANCE: +3.32 units