‘England deserve to be favourites’

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson says his side are happy to embrace their underdog status in Sunday’s World Cup final against England at Lord’s.

The Black Caps, runners-up in 2015, have the tough task of facing the world’s top-ranked one-day international side, who destroyed reigning champions Australia in the semifinals.

But New Zealand will also start the final with confidence after upsetting the odds to beat India by 18 runs in their last-four clash.

“To be involved in a World Cup and be representing your country, let alone to turn up here at the home of cricket and be involved in a final is pretty special,” Williamson said at Lord’s on Saturday.

PHOTO: Reuters

“I think England rightly deserve to be favourites.”

“Coming into this tournament from the start, they were favourites and they’ve been playing really good cricket,” added Williamson, whose side suffered a 119-run thrashing by the hosts in pool play.

“But whatever dog we are, it’s just important that we focus on the cricket that we want to play and we have seen over the years that anybody can beat anybody -- regardless of breed of dog.”

As for suggestions his side would be “party poopers” if they won, star batsman Williamson jokingly replied: “You talking about dogs again, hey? Underdogs?”

New Zealand, having suffered a crushing defeat by Australia in the 2015 final, are determined to go one better this time, with Williamson dismissing talk that all the pressure is off his side.

“We are quite keen on winning as well,” he said with a deadpan expression. “There’s all different bits of pressure on anybody.

“Whether having had experience in a final or not is a good thing -- any final you get the opportunity to play in is a really positive thing.

“But at the same time, as we know in this game nothing promises, so it does come down to putting a performance on the board that gives us the best opportunity to win.”