New Zealand vs Pakistan, 1st T20 Match Prediction 18 Dec 2020
Pakistan tour of New Zealand, 2020-21
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand
8.28
156/5 in 18.5
7.65
153/9 in 20.0
Pakistan
New Zealand
8.28
156/5 in 18.5
Pakistan
7.65
153/9 in 20.0
Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Toss Winner - Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 5 wickets
New Zealand vs Pakistan cricket betting odds
NZ
1.52
PAK
2.40
NZ vs PAK Prediction
Kane Williamson-less New Zealand face stern test against Pakistan
- Babar Azam has been ruled out of the T20I series, Shadab Khan will lead Pakistan.
- Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez and Shaheen Afridi have shown excellent form in the T20 format this season.
- Tim Seifert, Glenn Phillips and Tim Southee have been standout players for New Zealand this season.
Expect Pakistan to edge out New Zealand in a tight contest.
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Match Preview
Host New Zealand will be looking to continue their good form when they face Pakistan in the opening game of the T20I series.
With Kane Williamson rested for the opening game of the series, spinner Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand for this contest. The home side will be looking to field their strongest XI for this game. Earlier this month, New Zealand managed to beat West Indies in three-match T20I series by a margin of 2-0.
On the other hand, Pakistan managed to register a 3-0 clean sweep over Zimbabwe in a T20I series played at home in September. Interim captain Shadab Khan will be hoping that the side can put in a decent show with bat and ball in this T20I series.
*Our match preview predictions are fully researched and provided in good faith but no profits are guaranteed. Please gamble responsibly, you should only ever gamble with money you can afford to lose.
Host New Zealand will be looking to continue their good form when they face Pakistan in the opening game of the T20I series.
With Kane Williamson rested for the opening game of the series, spinner Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand for this contest. The home side will be looking to field their strongest XI for this game. Earlier this month, New Zealand managed to beat West Indies in three-match T20I series by a margin of 2-0.
On the other hand, Pakistan managed to register a 3-0 clean sweep over Zimbabwe in a T20I series played at home in September. Interim captain Shadab Khan will be hoping that the side can put in a decent show with bat and ball in this T20I series.
*Our match preview predictions are fully researched and provided in good faith but no profits are guaranteed. Please gamble responsibly, you should only ever gamble with money you can afford to lose.
Teams Preview
New Zealand
With Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kylie Jamieson rested for the 1st T20I, the likes of Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner will be certainly slotted into the playing XI. Uncapped all-rounder Jacob Duffy might play this game.
In the batting department, the onus will be on the likes of Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips to deliver the bulk of the runs.
Rookie batsman Devon Conway started his international career in the best manner and finished the three-match T20I series against West Indies with 106 runs at a strike rate of 160.61. Left-hander will be keen to continue his excellent form in this series.
Besides Conway, wicket-keeper batsman Glenn Phillips made an emphatic comeback to the New Zealand side.
In the third and final game of the T20I series against West Indies, Glenn Phillips broke the record for the fastest hundred scored by a New Zealand batsman in the T20 format. His maiden hundred against West Indies was enough to see him retain his place in New Zealand’s T20I squad. Phillips will be looking to continue his rich vein of form against Pakistan.
Middle-order comprising of James Neesham, and Jacob Duffy will need to contribute runs for the side in this opening fixture.
In the bowling department, the side will be relying of Scott Kuggeleijn, Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner to make crucial breakthroughs. Ish Sodhi will
New Zealand Actual Playing XI:
Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Tim Seifert, Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips
New Zealand Predicted Playing XI
Mitchell Santner (captain), Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell/Jacob Duffy James Neesham, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Doug Bracewell, Blair Tickner.
Pakistan
The visitors will be hoping to field their best combination for this opening game of the series. With Babar Azam missing the series, the side might add another batsman in the playing XI.
In the batting department, the side will be relying on Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali and Khushdil Shah to make notable contributions in this series.
Experienced batsman Mohammad Hafeez has shown excellent form for Pakistan in the T20 format. Since May 2019, Muhammad Hafeez has accumulated 275 runs in five innings at an average of 91.66 with three half-centuries to his name. The 38-year old will be looking to continue his purple patch with the bat in this series.
Besides Hafeez, rookie Haider Ali has been an excellent find for Pakistan this season. The 20-year old made his T20I debut against England earlier this year. In four matches played, Haider has scored 154 runs in 4 innings at an average of 51.33 with two half-centuries to his name.
Khushdil Shah, Hussain Talat and Mohammad Rizwan will make up the middle-order for Pakistan for this opening encounter.
In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Wahab Riaz to make crucial breakthroughs. Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan will be two spinners for this game.
Pakistan Actual Playing XI:
Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, SI Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Haris Rauf, Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Khushdil Shah
Pakistan Predicted Playing XI
Shadab Khan (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed/Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan/Usman Qadir, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi
New Zealand
With Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kylie Jamieson rested for the 1st T20I, the likes of Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner will be certainly slotted into the playing XI. Uncapped all-rounder Jacob Duffy might play this game.
In the batting department, the onus will be on the likes of Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips to deliver the bulk of the runs.
Rookie batsman Devon Conway started his international career in the best manner and finished the three-match T20I series against West Indies with 106 runs at a strike rate of 160.61. Left-hander will be keen to continue his excellent form in this series.
Besides Conway, wicket-keeper batsman Glenn Phillips made an emphatic comeback to the New Zealand side.
In the third and final game of the T20I series against West Indies, Glenn Phillips broke the record for the fastest hundred scored by a New Zealand batsman in the T20 format. His maiden hundred against West Indies was enough to see him retain his place in New Zealand’s T20I squad. Phillips will be looking to continue his rich vein of form against Pakistan.
Middle-order comprising of James Neesham, and Jacob Duffy will need to contribute runs for the side in this opening fixture.
In the bowling department, the side will be relying of Scott Kuggeleijn, Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner to make crucial breakthroughs. Ish Sodhi will
New Zealand Actual Playing XI:
Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Tim Seifert, Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips
New Zealand Predicted Playing XI
Mitchell Santner (captain), Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell/Jacob Duffy James Neesham, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Doug Bracewell, Blair Tickner.Pakistan
The visitors will be hoping to field their best combination for this opening game of the series. With Babar Azam missing the series, the side might add another batsman in the playing XI.
In the batting department, the side will be relying on Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali and Khushdil Shah to make notable contributions in this series.
Experienced batsman Mohammad Hafeez has shown excellent form for Pakistan in the T20 format. Since May 2019, Muhammad Hafeez has accumulated 275 runs in five innings at an average of 91.66 with three half-centuries to his name. The 38-year old will be looking to continue his purple patch with the bat in this series.
Besides Hafeez, rookie Haider Ali has been an excellent find for Pakistan this season. The 20-year old made his T20I debut against England earlier this year. In four matches played, Haider has scored 154 runs in 4 innings at an average of 51.33 with two half-centuries to his name.
Khushdil Shah, Hussain Talat and Mohammad Rizwan will make up the middle-order for Pakistan for this opening encounter.
In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Wahab Riaz to make crucial breakthroughs. Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan will be two spinners for this game.
Pakistan Actual Playing XI:
Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, SI Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Haris Rauf, Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Khushdil Shah
Pakistan Predicted Playing XI
Shadab Khan (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed/Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan/Usman Qadir, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen AfridiPitch And Weather Conditions
| Hr | Temp | Rain | W. speed | W. direction | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00h | 22 | 0 mm. | 5.24 k/h | From: NNE | 58% |
| 03h | 21 | 0 mm. | 4.82 k/h | From: NNE | 15% |
| 06h | 20 | 0 mm. | 4.05 k/h | From: NNE | 31% |
| 09h | 17 | 0 mm. | 2.67 k/h | From: N | 31% |
| 12h | 16 | 0 mm. | 1.19 k/h | From: NNE | 15% |
| 15h | 16 | 0 mm. | 1.65 k/h | From: ENE | 47% |
| 18h | 16 | 0 mm. | 2.1 k/h | From: E | 54% |
| 21h | 19 | 0 mm. | 3.28 k/h | From: NE | 50% |
The wicket prepared for the game will be good for batting. The weather expected for Friday’s game is going to be light cloud with gentle breeze
Venue Details
Both teams have competed in 21 T20I matches before where Green Shirts have held the upper hand with 13 wins compared to the New Zealand’ eight victories.
However, in the last five matches, Pakistan have turned out be a dominant unit and managed to win on all five occasions.
In the T20 format, Pakistan highest total is 205-4 which they managed to post against New Zealand in Eden Park, Auckland in 2018, whereas New Zealand’s highest total was 196 for 5, which came against Pakistan at Basin Reserve in Wellington in 2016.
Toss Prediction
The side that wins the toss would be keen to bowl first and restrict the opposing team to a modest total. The last five matches played at Eden Park in Auckland have been won by sides batting second.
Winning Prediction
After analyzing both the teams, Pakistan seemed to have slight advantage in this opening game against New Zealand. The visitors have a superior bowling attack in comparison to New Zealand, who will miss the services of Tim Southee, Trent and Kyle Jamieson for this opening clash.
Also, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor are notable absentees for this opening game so it means a lot of burden will be on the likes of Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips to do the bulk of the scoring.
Expect Pakistan to edge out New Zealand in a tight contest.
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