New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I: Match Preview And Prediction – Pakistan Tour Of New Zealand 2020-21

On Sunday (20th December) night, the hosts New Zealand and the visitors Pakistan will play in the second game of the three-match T20I series at Seddon Park (Hamilton).

Currently, the home team New Zealand is leading this series by 1-0 due to winning the series opener on last Friday (18th December). Auckland hosted that series opener, where New Zealand chased the 154 runs target and won by 5 wickets.

New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I: Match Preview

New Zealand

Skipper Kane Williamson and other Test members are now available for this T20I series. So, it means that vice-captain Tim Southee, left-arm pacer Trent Boult, all-rounder Daryl Mitchell and pacer Kyle Jamieson will be available from this game.

The latest T20I debutant for New Zealand, Jacob Duffy will not feature in the last two games of this series. On his T20I debut on last Friday, he won the Player of the Match award for claiming best T20I bowling figures (4/33) as a debutant New Zealander. But he is not in the squad for the last two games of this T20I series.

Also, Blair Tickner, Mark Chapman and Doug Bracewell are leaving the squad due to Test players’ return. Mitchell Santner, who led the Blackcaps in the last two T20Is, is now taking a break.

The New Zealand team is now stronger and more experienced than this series opener. They have enough quality players to secure this series by winning the second game.

Full Squad

Kane Williamson (C), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

Recent ODI form (Oldest to latest): Lost, Won, Won, No Result and Won

Pakistan

While Pakistan missing some of their key top-order batsmen, like Fakhar Zaman, captain Babar Azam, the current top-orders failed to provide a good start for the team in the opening game of this series. Struggling on 39/5, the middle-order batsmen played brilliant role to help the side to manage 153/9 (20 overs). But it wasn’t enough runs for the visitors to defend against the strong hosts batting line-up.

In that opening match, the top-order batting was the major issue for Pakistan. Meanwhile, while the other bowlers managed to control the game, the experienced pacer Wahab Riaz was very expensive (3.5-0-45-0) and also the new captain Shadab Khan conceded 22 runs in 2 overs.

While the visitors can’t afford another defeat in this series, they have to cover up major roles in very quick time.

Full Squad

Shadab Khan (C), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Wahab Riaz

Recent ODI form (Oldest to latest): Won, Won, Won, Won and Lost

New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I: Match Prediction

In the home matches, New Zealand are always strong. Moreover, they are in better place after winning the series opener as well as returning their big names. Undoubtedly, the Kiwis are favourite for this game.