New Zealand confident of victory

Shane Bond's explosive pace will be a key weapon for New Zealand © Getty Images

Despite the loss of their captain, Stephen Fleming, from the first match in the series, New Zealand are big favourites at 1/2 (1.50) with bet365 to see off Sri Lanka in the four-match one-day international series, which starts in Queenstown on Saturday. Sri Lanka, coming off a Test series defeat in India, are 5/1 (6.00) to bounce back with victory, while the draw is an 11/4 (3.75) chance.

The injury-plagued Shane Bond is back to boost New Zealand's hopes and after beating Australia in their most recent one-day game, the Black Caps are confident of claiming a series victory which would put them in good spirits for their forthcoming Test and one-day series at home to West Indies.

New Zealand have won 96 of their 183 one-dayers on home soil, a 55% return, and 11 of their past 20 at home, a statistic made all the better by the fact that eight of those matches were against Australia. New Zealand have won 12 of their 18 meetings with Sri Lanka at home and have won the last two.

Sri Lanka, for all their one-day pedigree - they won the World Cup in 1996 let's not forget - are in something of a rut. Though they have won 10 of their last 20 one-dayers, they were humbled 6-1 by India last time out, and they have won just 51 of 153 games away from home, a 34% return. With Bond back in the fold and home advantage to boot, New Zealand are understandable favourites to open with victory in Queenstown, a venue where they split matches with Pakistan in 2003/4. bet365 make them 2/5 (1.40) to win it, while Sri Lanka are 7/4 (2.75).

Nathan Astle shades favouritism in the top New Zealand batting market, a 4/1 (5.00). Lou Vincent and Scott Styris are 9/2 (5.50) while Chris Cairns looks big at 7/1 (8.00). For Sri Lanka, in-form Kumar Sangakkara is favourite at 7/2 (4.50) while captain Marvan Atapattu and recalled former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya are both 4/1 (5.00) chances.