Pakistan and New Zealand will face each other in the second T20 of the ongoing series on 18th March at University Oval.
Match Preview:
It was a below-par outing for the team Pakistan under almost a new team. Mohammad Haris and Shadab Khan were making a comeback, Hassan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, and Mohammad Ali were making their T20 debut and all of them were playing under new captain – Salman Ali Agha.
Pakistan were bundled out for 91 runs, their lowest total against the Black Caps. Khushdil Shah was top-scorer for Pakistan as he scored 32 runs with the help of 3 sixes. None of the other batters could make a mark, not even the returning heroes.
Regardless of the results, Pakistan should back this new-look T20 approach as they are trying something they could have done ages ago.
“We had three debutants, the more games they play, they’ll learn more. The new ball does a bit in New Zealand, we’ve got good bowlers and we’ll look to do well in the next match,” said Salman Agha
All the hopes and eyes will be on the batting unit to score some crucial runs and set a defendable target for the bowlers. As according to the captain:
“We will sit down, have a chat and think about the next game,” said Agha.
Talking about New Zealand, they put up a perfect performance under the stand-in skipper Michael Bracewell. Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy were the pick of the bowlers as they took 3 and 4 wickets, respectively.
Tim Seifert took the charge as an opener and scored 44 off 29 while Finn Allen and Tim Robinson stayed till the end of the chase.
For New Zealand, they have no-worries as of now to tackle as they are performing aptly even in the absence of experienced players.
Probable Playing XI:
New Zealand
Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
Pakistan
Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Agha Salman (c), Irfan Khan Niazi, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Abrar Ahmed.
Pitch and weather report:
Hagley Oval is known for its batting-friendly surface, making it excellent for high-scoring matches. Historically, teams pursuing have had the advantage here, so winning the toss and deciding to bowl may be the best approach.
Anticipate overcast skies with sporadic showers, which may cause problems during the game. Players and spectators should be ready for cold weather as temperatures will range from a frigid 8°C to a high of 13°C.
Head-to-head record:
New Zealand and Pakistan have faced off in 45 T20Is, with Pakistan holding the upper hand, winning 23 matches. New Zealand has secured victory in 20 encounters, while two games ended with no result.
Prediction:
Given how New Zealand performed in the first game, they are favourites to win the second encounter as well.
Where to Watch:
Pakistan: Tapmad, Tamasha, Ten Sports,
New Zealand: TVNZ+
India: SonyLiv app and website
Others: CricHD
