£1 million bet on the opening match of the Cricket World Cup

Bookmakers William Hill accepted just over £1 million on the opening match of the Cricket World Cup and are now confident that the industry figures of £100 million being wagered over the World Cup will be exceeded. "The World Cup has got off to a flyer and is gearing up to be one of the biggest betting turnover events of all time, even the minnow matches are turning over nearly half a million and as long as Australia and England fail to win the event will be a bonanza for the bookies," said Hills spokesman Rupert Adams. England's first game against the Kiwis is difficult to call and Hill's offer 10/11 take your pick. Kevin Pietersen is the well backed 11/4 favourite to be England's top run scorer, closely followed by Michael Vaughan at 4/1 and talisman Freddie Flintoff a 14/1 shot to top score. Hill's rate Pietersen as their 2/1 favourite to be the first England player to hit a six with Flintoff offered at 4/1. William Hill: 10/11 England, 10/11 New Zealand William Hill England Top run scorer: 11/4 K Pietersen, 4/1 M Vaughan, 5/1 E Joyce, 5/1 A Strauss, 11/2 P Collingwood, 6/1 A Flintoff, 10/1 R Bopara, 12/1 J Dalrymple, 66/1 P Nixon, 66/1 L Plunkett, 100/1 S Mahmood, 100/1 J Lewis, 200/1 M Panesar. William Hill Highest Opening Partnership: 5/6 New Zealand, 5/6 England, 14/1 Draw William Hill Batting Position Of Top Run Scorer: 6/4 Batsman 4,5 or 6, 6/4 Batsman 1, 2 or 3, 11/5 Batsman Number 7-11 England Cricketer First To Score Fifty: 3/1 M Vaughan, 3/1 E Joyce, 7/2K Pietersen, 4/1 A Strauss, 5/1 I Bell, 7/1 P Collingwood, 14/1 A Flintoff, 16/1 J Dalrymple, 33/1 R Bopara, 40/1 P Nixon, 80/1 S Mahmood, 80/1 L Plunkett, 80/1 Lewis, 100/1 No England Player, 125/1 M Panesar William Hill Cricket World Cup: 2/1 Australia, 5/1 South Africa, 7/1 West Indies, 7/1 Sri Lanka, 7/1 India, 9/1 England, 10/1 New Zealand, 16/1 Pakistan, 100/1 Bangladesh, 200/1 Kenya, 250/1 Zimbabwe, 750/1 Ireland