Venue: National Stadium – Karachi, Pakistan.
Weather Report:
It will be warm with the temperature in the mid-high 20s during the first half of this game. Expect plenty of humidity the later this game goes.
Pitch Report:
We expect a par score to be between 300 and 320 in this game. There will be low, skiddy bounce but also some turn for the spinners.
Match Preview: New Zealand adapted very well to the local conditions during the Test series but they will have to readjust again in this format. Pakistan’s batters are very consistent in this format and they could hold the key to the result.
Although the Test series finished 0-0, it was very entertaining with the final game still undecided heading into the last over before bad light intervened. The two sides are very well matched and we expect a close series as well as a close opening fixture. Pakistan have the advantage of home conditions and their batters have all made plenty of ODI runs on these pitches. Our prediction is for a Pakistan win.
Probable XI:
Pakistan:
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shan Masood, Agha Salman, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shanawaz Dahani
New Zealand:
Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, Lockie Ferguson, Ajaz Patel
