Event of the Day: New Zealand versus Australia
Our event of the day is the final of the Trans-Tasman Twenty20 Tri-Series between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park in Auckland. Australia led by David Warner and New Zealand captained by Kane Williamson will put on a thrilling conclusion to this T20 tournament. Despite the fact England won the game against NZ on Sunday, the England performance was too little to overtake the Black Caps on Net Run Rate and reach the final. Australia are the team in form with Warner, D’Arcy Short, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch and Chris Lynn forming a frightening batting lineup alongside effective bowling from the likes of Andrew Tye and Billy Stanlake.
For New Zealand, Colin Munro and Martin Guptill are key men but it will be essential for the captain Williamson to have a great game. The last time the sides met it was an epic affair with Australia registering a world record T20 run chase of 245 in 18.5 overs in a game which had an incredible 488 runs scored in it. The T20 Tri-Series has been relatively easy going for the powerful Australia side and New Zealand will really need to use home advantage and put in a massive performance. Current odds have Australia as 11/4 favourites with the Black Caps at 6/1. Hopefully New Zealand have a big performance in them and we can enjoy a competitive and thrilling Twenty20 final.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the UEFA Champions League Last 16 first leg clash between Manchester United and Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Sevilla. This is United’s first appearance at this stage of the competition since 2014 whilst Sevilla were knocked out at this stage last season by Leicester City. Additionally in the Champions League Shakhtar Donetsk host Roma at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv. In the EFL Championship, Wolves host Norwich City at Molineux and in La Liga, Real Madrid travel to Leganés to play against Leganés at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque. Also in cricket, South Africa play against India in the 2nd T20I and South Africa Women match up with India Women in the 4th T20I, both matches are at Centurion. It’s Day 3 at the ATP World Tour Rio Open in Rio de Janeiro and the third day at the WTA World Tour Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. In the NHL, the Calgary Flames visit the Vegas Golden Knights at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Highlights of Day 12 of the Winter Olympics are the Women’s Downhill, Women’s Bobsleigh, Team Cross-Country Skiing, Men’s and Women’s Curling, Figure Skating, Men’s Ski Cross, Finals in Speed Skating for Women’s and Men’s Team Pursuit and Men’s Big Air Snowboard.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by Cricket Australia; BlackCaps