New Zealand vs Pakistan, 3rd T20I Match Preview, Prediction and Live Streaming

Pakistan have been able to attain little to triumph over so far in this series, but the good news is they still have time to make amends. 2-0 down in a five-match series does not mean it is over, even if the odds point to the opposite. But that could take a lot more than the young Pakistan side can offer. On the other hand, New Zealand can turn the remaining two games into dead rubbers by delivering a coup de grace to the visitors in this game.

But results are hardly what matters right now. Both sides laid out plans to focus on the bigger picture in this series, Pakistan more so. This makes life more difficult for their youngsters who already have plenty on their plate. That they were brought in for the national favorites like Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam does not help their case either. Their only reprieve lies in doing insanely well against New Zealand at their own home, and this game is really their last opportunity to do so before trigger-happy Pakistan decide to look past them.

Team Overview:

Pakistan’s humbling in the first two games was a result of a combined team effort, but not on New Zealand’s part. The visitors, in addition to the conditions they could not fathom, were who bungled their chances. A side with less experienced players on their first away tour was bound to take some time to get things in order, but for Pakistan, even the things that should have gone right went awry.

For instance, their bowling. Christchurch’s bounce and movement should have set the stage for a more dominant showing by their bowlers. Instead, they managed just one wicket, the irony being that it fell to a spinner rather than a seamer. Mohammad Haris OD’d on aggression in both games, making the opening stand toil away without any impact. Naturally, it shifted the pressure to the middle order, and it’s no news how chaotic that becomes for a team composed of wet-behind-the-ears batters.

New Zealand have not really been faced with any hostile situation as yet but could still shuffle some players to manage workloads and give game time to those on the bench. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert have proven themselves, even without Tim Robinson’s presence as the more regular opener in the team. Allen’s obsession with scoring against Pakistan has pushed him among the top five batters to have scored the highest against them in T20Is.

Head-to-Head Matches:

Pakistan and New Zealand have contested each other in 121 shortest-format games, with the former winning 61 of these. Leaving out the four that ended without any result, New Zealand managed to win the remaining 56 matches.

Weather and Pitch Report:

Short boundaries and a belter pitch are what make Auckland a high-scoring ground. With no rain in the forecast, a run-fest is all but guaranteed at Eden Park. The captain winning the toss will look to bat first to set a total high enough to be defended.