England are determined to repay Kevin Pietersen on Monday, by making sure they reach the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals in his absence. Paul Collingwood’s team will be in the last four as long as they can avoid a wide-margin defeat against New Zealand in St Lucia – unless South Africa first lose to Pakistan at the same venue. In that event, England will have done enough already by beating first Pakistan and then South Africa yesterday in the Super Eight stage – each time on the back of Pietersen half-centuries.
William Hill can report significant support for England to beat New Zealand, despite the absence of Kevin Pietersen and they are the 4/5 to do so. Lumb is the 3/1 joint favourite with Kieswetter to top score.
“Punters obviously think England are very strong as they are piling in despite KP being on the plane home,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.
William Hill England vs New Zealand: 4/5 England, 1/1 New Zealand
William Hill Team Most Sixes: 1/1 England, 6/5 New Zealand, 11/2 Draw
William Hill England Top Bat: 3/1 Lumb, 3/1 Kieswetter, 4/1 Bopara, 9/2 Morgan, 9/2 Collingwood, 10/1 Wright, 28/1 Bar
