PAK vs NZ Match Preview
Batting first, the Pakistan fans saw a 79-run stand between Saim Ayyub and Fakhar Zaman in just 43 balls with both batters scoring breezy 47 runs each. Pakistan put up an imposing total on the board on a track that offered some help to the speedsters. The total of 182 runs was well above par for Pakistan typically because of the strong bowling unit they have. It took the Pakistan bowlers just 15.3 overs to bowl out the Kiwi batting charge for a paltry score of 94 runs. The top 3 wickets for New Zealand were picked by Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne was all over Pakistan openers as he picked up the vital wickets of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam early on in the Pakistani inning. But Fakhar Zaman and Ayub faced the music and countered brilliantly to take the Pakistan total to a respectable and reliable one. It was in the 9th over when Jimmy Neesham went for 3 fours that saw the momentum shifting gears saw New Zealand losing control over the Pakistani batting charge. Pakistan hurt the Kiwi batting line-up with their pace bowling battery during the Pakistan inning. These bowlers can damage any batting line-up on any track.
If New Zealand can draw some positives from this first game against Pakistan, it has to be the relatively weaker Pakistani lower middle order. When Matt Henry picked up a hattrick and Sodhi got rid of Fakhar Zaman from the other end, the Kiwis looked as if they might stage a comeback in this game. But a cameo from Imad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf meant there were no lower-order collapses for Pakistan and they ended up reaching 182 runs in the end. Matt Henry returns for the last over and promptly picked up a wicket on the first ball but the damage was done.
Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Zaman Khan collaborate to form a strong fast-bowling attack for any batting order. They proved to be too hot to handle for the Kiwis. As things stood the total raised by Pakistan was a bit tough to handle at the best of times. Kiwis were never in contention for chasing down the total in terms of the run rate and there were no sufficient wickets in hand to have any hopes of taking the match deep. Zaman and Afridi struck early in the New Zealand innings to ensure that the Kiwis never got off their feet in their chase.
Weather Report
We are likely to get clear skies during this game in the evening. The relative humidity for the game will be close to 25%.
Pitch Report
This second match of the ongoing T20I series will be hosted at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This venue in Lahore has a well-balanced wicket that offers help to both bowlers and batters. In the 18 T20 international games played at the venue, a total of 200 runs, were crossed only once. In normal cases, the teams batting first score a total of close to 170 runs at the venue. Although the wicket will be a good one for batting the fast bowlers will get some help in terms of lateral movement from the pitch.
Notable stats
Pakistan leads the recent head-to-head between the two sides.
Pakistan leads the recent head-to-head between the two teams 4-1.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has had a great strike rate in recent games.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has done a great job for Pakistan in recent times with 12 wickets from 7 matches with a strike rate of 11.58.
Team News
Many star players are missing from the New Zeeland side for this series. Pakistan will play their full side in the second match in all probability.
PAK vs NZ Probable 11
PAK Playing 11
- Mohammad Rizwan (Wk)
- Babar Azam (C)
- Fakhar Zaman
- Saim Ayub
- Shadab Khan
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Imad Wasim
- Faheem Ashraf
- Shaheen Afridi
- Haris Rauf
- Zaman Khan
NZ Playing 11
- Tom Latham (C)
- Chad Bowes
- Will Young
- Daryl Mitchell
- Mark Chapman
- James Neesham
- Rachin Ravindra
- Adam Milne
- Matt Henry
- Ish Sodhi
- Ben Lister
Dream11 Prediction
After the mauling they provided to the New Zealand outfit in the first match, the Pakistani team will be brimming with confidence for this game. They are also fielding their full side in the competition. So, they start as firm favorites to win this match and take a 2-0 lead in the series. Players such as Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, and Saim Ayyub put in a top performance for the Pakistan team in the first game. The Pakistan team will be eyeing another win in the match and consolidate their lead further in the series.
Top Picks
Daryl Mitchell: Daryl Mitchell has scored 267 runs from his last 10 games for New Zealand with an average of 38.14 and with an excellent strike rate of 145.10.
Adam Milne: Milne was one of the bowlers that'd make a good impression on the Pakistani batting order.
Shadab Khan: Shadab Khan is one of the spinners for Pakistan. He is a bowling all-rounder who has also contributed with the bat scoring 170 from his last 10 appearances for Pakistan.
Mohammad Rizwan: Mohammad Rizwan is one of the top performers for Pakistan with the bat. He has scored 179 runs in his last 7 games for his team.
PAK vs NZ Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: T Latham , M Rizwan (C)
Batters: B Azam (VC), M Chapman, D Mitchell, F Zaman
All-rounders: J Neesham, I Wasim, S Khan
Bowlers: A Milne, S Afridi
