Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Prediction: Bennett to continue fine form

Thursday’s T20I fixture sees the final group stage match of the T20 Tri-Series between Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand, with the hosts taking on the Black Caps in Harare (12:00 BST, TNT Sports 3).

New Zealand are top of the table with three wins from three and having already seen off South Africa twice and Zimbabwe once, a clean sweep looks set to be on the cards. Below are my Zimbabwe vs New Zealand predictions, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Zimbabwe have made minimal changes to their team during the first three matches of the series, with nine players featuring in all three encounters and two appearances each for Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani and Tinotenda Maposa. Masakdza is the one expected to miss out in this clash.

Cricket Odds

After playing the first two matches of the tournament, New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry was handed a rest for the clash with South Africa and is expected to come back into the side for the final two games of the series.

The Black Caps’ batting line-up has a settled look to it, with the only change expected to be the return of Henry, most likely for Zakary Foulkes.

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Odds

New Zealand blew Zimbabwe away in their first clash of the group stage, winning by eight wickets with 37 balls in hand, and are 1/6 to seal another victory, with the home side 4/1, or a 20% chance, to spring a surprise.

After scoring just five in the first match against South Africa, Daryl Mitchell has had back-to-back not-outs of 20 and 26, and the all-rounder is 5/6 to make over 19.5 runs on Thursday.

Brian Bennett to be Zimbabwe's top batter @ 10/3

Opener Brian Bennett has been a shining light for Zimbabwe in this series, with scores of 30, 21 and 61 so far, sitting second in the competition's top run-scorers behind only South African Rubin Hermann, who has seven more runs from one extra innings.

Bennett came into the series in fine form in the Test format of the game, having hit a career-high 139 against England earlier in the summer. A concussion saw him withdrawn during the first innings of the first Test against South Africa, but the skilful batter has returned to the team and hit the ground running.

Having taken a liking to the New Zealand bowlers last time out, scoring 61 from 43 deliveries, the 21-year-old can once again get in the runs for his country.

Matt Henry to be New Zealand's top bowler @ 14/5

Despite only playing two matches so far in this series, Matt Henry tops the wicket-taking chart with six wickets from just 44 deliveries, at an average of 10.0.

Henry backed up his three for 34 against South Africa with three for 26 against Zimbabwe, and the fast bowler will be looking to deliver again in the final match of the group stage against the hosts.

The seamer’s use of the short ball caused Zimbabwe’s batters all manner of problems in their last clash in Harare, and if Henry can hit that length again, he is a strong candidate to top the bowling figures for his country once more.

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Cricket Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.