England vs New Zealand Prediction: Phillips can finally fire at 4/1

| Thursday 26th February 2026, 14:32pm

Thursday 26th February 2026, 14:32pm

Jamie Pacheco previews England’s last Super 8 stage match of the T20 World Cup against New Zealand, starting 13:30 on Friday, February 27, and live on Sky Sports Main Event.

Jamie has a 9/2 and a 4/1 shot, and we’ll know whether none, either, or both won at the end of New Zealand’s innings. Here are his England vs New Zealand Betting Tips...

England vs New Zealand Betting Tips

0.5pts Back Jamie Overton to be England Top Bowler @ 9/2
0.5pts Back Glenn Phillips to be New Zealand Top Batter @ 4/1

*odds correct at time of publication

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England

England are in the semis and have shown real ‘cricket smarts’ to get there, realising that lots of spin options, batting very deep and good running are just as important as taking wickets and hitting sixes.

Then again, it may have been a very different story had Harry Brook not played one of the best knocks you’re ever likely to see in the format against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Anyone can swing for the rooftops and focus on just that, but he mixed up big hits with great shot selection and placement, also showing fantastic awareness of when twos were on and remarkable fitness in doing so much running.

If we want to be critical and highlight an area for improvement, it’s that after Brook got out after reaching his century, they made a bit of a meal out of what should have been a stroll in the park, losing wickets in quick succession rather than getting there in singles.

And yet another area of concern is the form of their openers. Phil Salt played one super knock in six innings; Jos Buttler hasn’t played any.

But it would be foolish to mess with a winning formula at this stage, and they just have to hope Buttler comes good rather than changing wicket-keepers and batting positions. Speaking of which, it will be interesting to see whether Harry Brooks carries on batting at three. Jacob Bethell could do with a score himself.

England Likely XI

Buttler, Salt, Bethell, Brook, Banton, Sam Curran, Jacks, Dawson, Overton, Archer, Rashid

New Zealand

New Zealand won their match against Sri Lanka on Wednesday in a very different way to how England did it against Pakistan.

They were in a right hole before the unlikely pairing of Cole McConchie and Mitch Santner steading the ship, and then some. The former played a measured but priceless 31 off 23, the latter a more brutal 47 off 26 to get them to a very competitive 168 on what was always going to be a two-paced wicket.

Then it was over to the likes of Matt Henry, Santner, and Rachin Ravindra, who took four wickets, to finish off the job with the ball.

They’re as well-drilled a side as you’re likely to see in this tournament, and that could go a long way.

New Zealand Likely XI

Seifert, Allen, Ravindra, Phillips, Mitchell, Chapman, Santner, McConchie, Henry, Sodhi, Ferguson.

Pitch and conditions

Colombo is one of the fairer T20 wickets in the world.

Bowl well, mix up your pace and lengths and you’ll be rewarded, bowl poorly and you’ll be punished with shortish boundaries there to be taken on.

Expect plenty of overs of spin here. 160 first up and you’re in business on a pitch where you can get bogged down in the chase.

England vs New Zealand odds

Though England are through, New Zealand aren’t sure of anything at this stage, so there’s plenty to play for.

England are 8/11 here, and that’s understandable to an extent, but many will be interested in the 11/10 about the Kiwis who have been impressive after a poor showing against India just before the WC got underway.

If you really want to play, it probably makes sense to go with the outsider, but we think it’s best left alone.

0.5pts Back Glenn Phillips to be New Zealand Top Batter @ 4/1

Glenn Phillips has had something of a mixed tournament so far.

There was a 42 against Afghanistan and an excellent 76 not out against Canada. On two occasions, he wasn’t needed to bat, and in the other two, he got 1 and then 18 against Sri Lanka.

But he can be ruthless against spin if he gets going and his lightning quick running between the wickets allows him to accumulate a load of runs that way, which could well be a factor at this ground.

He’ll certainly have a fair crack of the whip batting at four and the 4/1 is worth taking given no one player has really stood out with the bat for NZ so far this tournament.

England vs New Zealand - Top Away Team Batter

Glenn Phillips

4/1

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

0.5pts Back Jamie Overton to be England Top Bowler @ 9/2

Jamie Overton has been one of the unsung heroes of England’s so-far successful campaign.

He’s played five matches at this World Cup and has taken wickets in all of them: 2, 1, 3, 1 and 2, for a total of nine.

In betting terms in the top bowler market, that translates as dead heats against the Windies and Italy, and a near-miss for another dead heat against Pakistan when he took two, and Liam Dawson took three.

But he’s bowling plenty of overs, has been bowling well and could well do so at the death, so the 9/2 is pretty attractive.

England vs New Zealand - Top Home Team Bowler

Jamie Overton

9/2

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

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