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The 2022 T20 World Cup kicks into overdrive this weekend as the Super 12 stage gets underway.

Powerhouse nations Australia and New Zealand will do battle on Saturday night at a possibly soggy SCG, with both teams looking to launch an assault for the title.

Draftstars has put up a $15,000 contest, with top prize of $1,133. There is also a mini and a single-entry tournament.

Australia vs New Zealand Fantasy Tips

Expected Australia Xl: Finch, Warner, Marsh, Maxwell, Stoinis, David, Wade, Cummins, Starc, Zampa, Hazlewood

Expected New Zealand Xl: Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Adam Milne, Tim Southee

Australia are short-priced favourites for this contest, and rightly so. They have historically dominated the Black Caps in home conditions, recently belting them 3-0 in a quickfire ODI series. With the bat, David Warner is a constant danger to opposition bowling attacks at the top of the order and he has been in fine form recently. On the bowling front, the tournament hosts are blessed with riches of talent and experience. Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Zampa are all world class, and have been for a long time.

New Zealand will hardly be fearful though, as they have some firepower of their own. After all, they did make the T20 World Cup Final just last year. Devon Conway is flying with the bat, thriving in all forms of the game, while Guptill and Williamson are well versed in performing on the big stage. Likewise, Trent Boult is a reliable wicket-taker with the ball, and he is likely to trouble Australia’s batting line-up that contains out of form stars Finch and Maxwell.

Here's some fantasy plays for the Australia vs New Zealand contest on Draftstars.

Love It - Devon Conway ($17,300)

Conway boasts an average of over 50 in T20 Internationals, which is an even better 56 in 2022. Since October, the classy left-hander has scored under 36 just once and hit two half-centuries against Bangladesh. Australian conditions won’t be unfamiliar to him, and he has a great record against the Aussies with a 99* in this format.

Love It - Trent Boult ($18,800)

Yes, Australia should win. Yes, Boult is the most expensive bowler on this slate. However, he is a player capable of producing big points in a losing side. Boult took 10 wickets in the ODI series down under, the most of any, and consistently troubled the same batsmen who he will come up against on Saturday night. He's also likely to get first crack against Aaron Finch who has failed miserably against the ball swinging back at his pads.

Don’t Love It - Kane Williamson ($16,500)

New Zealand’s inspirational skipper has hit 50 just once in his last seven international T20 innings, and had an average World Cup last year aside from his knock of 85* against the Aussies. Even considering that performance, Williamson only averages 20 against Australia in this format, so I’m happy to look elsewhere at this price point. 

Don’t Love It - Glenn Maxwell ($17,100)

Maxwell is a game and slate breaker at his best, however his best has eluded him recently. The unconventional stroke maker has not cleared 20 in his last nine T20 international innings, and you can never guarantee that he will be given the bowling role to compensate for that. Maxwell will likely compete for overs with Stoinis and Marsh, so based on his batting alone it’s hard to justify this selection at $17,000 given his current form.

Who Knows - Marcus Stoinis ($12,500)

Big man Marcus Stoinis enters this tournament fit and firing. He has managed a combination of 20 runs and a wicket in three of his last four T20 internationals, a handy return for a $12k all-rounder on Draftstars. Stoinis’ ceiling during this tournament will be dependent on his role in the Aussie team – does he bowl? How many overs does he bowl? Where does he bat? These questions are all yet to be answered, so Stoinis shapes up as a huge risk vs reward pick.

Draftstars Suggested Lineup