New Zealand Backed at $30 in Thrilling Win Over England
Last updated: Mar 1, 2023, 2:25AM | Published: Mar 1, 2023, 1:23AM
If Test cricket needs to prove it is worth saving, then it can call New Zealand's comeback victory against England to the witness box.
While cricket may need to change to keep up with our fast-paced world, no one can deny that Tuesday's end in Wellington was one of the most exciting and unpredictable days of cricket we have ever seen.
READ: How Super Bowl LVII Happened on the Betfair Exchange
The stats only tell half the tale: New Zealand became the second team in history to win a Test by a single run, and the fourth to win after being forced to follow-on.
Incredible scenes at the Basin Reserve. A thrilling end to the 2nd Test in Wellington 🏏 #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/tyG7laNtdP
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 28, 2023
But the changing fortunes can be best exhibited on the Betfair Exchange, where nearly $60 million was traded on the second Test.
These are the highlights:
- New Zealand was backed to win the second Test at a high of $30.00 in-play. The total betting volume on New Zealand to win at $16.00 or more exceeded $163,300.
England's shortest odds backed were $1.05 in-play. This was recorded at approximately 12:25pm AEDT on day four, when Joe Root (93 not out) and captain Ben Stokes (33 not out) had steered England to 5/200, chasing a likely target of 258.
$13,363,218.78 was traded on England to win at odds of $1.20 or less.
England traded as the underdog just twice on day four – at 9:19am AEDT, when Harry Brook was dismissed for an embarrassing diamond duck, leaving England in ruins at 5/80, and at 12:56pm AEDT, not long after Joe Root fell for 95, leaving their chase in the hands of the tailenders.
But perhaps the most startling odds stats of all belonged in the final minutes of the second Test – proof that just a single delivery can make or break a result.
With England at 8/249 and requiring 9 runs to win, New Zealand's odds had blown out to $13.46. But Ben Foakes, who had been swatting mercilessly to score 35, top-edged a Tim Southee bouncer to fine leg, which was caught by Neil Wagner. England was 9-down, and New Zealand immediately crashed to odds of $2.67.
Fifteen minutes later came the moment of truth as Jimmy Anderson faced Neil Wagner. And even in those final moments, bettors were convinced: England traded at $1.18 with New Zealand at $6.80.
Test cricket may never compete against the fun and electrifying nature of the Twenty20 format, but if the Betfair Exchange in-play odds on New Zealand vs England prove anything, it's that Test cricket can be terrifyingly rebellious.
One minute the odds are stable, as if bettors know everything, and the next their very well-established intuitive senses can be turned on their heads.
