New Zealand vs. Pakistan, 2nd ODI: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview
New Zealand drew first blood in their three-game one-day international series against visitors Pakistan, running out comfortable 70-run winners in Wellington on Monday.
However, when the hosts were reduced to 178 for seven in the 38th over of their innings, it looked like Azhar Ali's men had the contest in the bag—only for some lusty tail-end hitting to change the course of proceedings.
Will Pakistan let the Black Caps off the hook again in Napier? Or will the Kiwis clinch the series with a game to spare?
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Let's take a look at how the two sides are shaping up.
Date: Thursday, 28 January
Time: 2 p.m. local (1 a.m. GMT)
Venue: McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand
Live Stream and TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), Sky Sport (New Zealand), TenSports (Pakistan), NowTV (subscription required).
Weather: According to Accuweather, a mixed day is in store with overcast clouds, bursts of sun and outbreaks of early evening showers keeping everybody on their toes.
Overview
After coming into this tour without a single warm-up game scheduled, Pakistan picked up a surprise victory in the opening Twenty20 international of their itinerary.
Since then, they've proceeded to lose three matches (two T20s, one ODI) in a row by the respective margins of 10 wickets, 95 runs and 70 runs.
Many would perhaps have predicted this when the squad, which contained just six players who contested the 2015 World Cup under a year ago, was announced.
While the Pakistan selectors clearly have one eye on the future, this lack of top-level experience has shown, with the team struggling to keep up with their in-form opponents.
That said, Ali's men could have won on Monday until New Zealand's No. 8, 9 and 10 batsmen blasted 127 runs off 111 balls.
And with their own wickets falling regularly, the total proved out of reach despite Babar Azam's defiant half century.
To keep the series alive, they need to win in Napier, and some overdue runs from their underperforming top order will help.
Ahmed Shehzad has scored only 46 runs from four innings; Sohaib Maqsood just 28 from three knocks; while skipper Azhar crawled to 19 off 35 balls in his first effort of the tour.
Time to justify the airfare, lads.
Conversely, the New Zealand ship keeps sailing on serenely, seemingly unaffected by injuries, the opposition or the format.
While the forthcoming arrival of the Australians remains the bigger prize, it would be no surprise if the Black Caps finished off their opponents with a minimum of fuss in Napier.
They'll be without Mitchell McClenaghan, who took a nasty blow to the face in Wellington, and he joins the likes of Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Tim Southee on the sidelines.
But one man's misfortune is another one's opportunity, and squad members such as Colin Munro, Matt Henry and Henry Nicholls, whose composed knock of 82 at Wellington held the side together, have done their future prospects no harm.
As well as strength in depth, the Kiwis possess plenty of firepower throughout the order and a bowling attack with variety spearheaded by Trent Boult.
With the carrot of a positive result here, giving them more leeway ahead of Australia's visit—which commences on February 3—New Zealand should come out with all guns blazing.
ODI head-to-head record
New Zealand and Pakistan have contested 97 ODIs altogether, with the latter holding a 53-41 advantage so far. However, the Kiwis have won each of the last five 50-overs encounters, including a meeting at Napier by 119 runs just under 12 months ago.
ODI form
New Zealand: WWNLWW
Pakistan: LLLWWL
Squads
New Zealand
Doug Bracewell comes into the squad to replace the injured McClenaghan, per ESPN, while BJ Watling takes over the gloves from Luke Ronchi.
Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Doug Bracewell, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Kane Williamson (capt), Tom Latham, BJ Watling (wk).
Pakistan
Resurgent pace bowler Mohammad Amir is a doubt after limping off the field in Wellington.
Azhar Ali (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sohaib Maqsood, Zafar Gohar, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir.
Key Players
New Zealand
Brendon who? Kane Williamson's temporary (McCullum is due back for the third ODI) ascension to the throne has been almost seamless, leading his side to series wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
And the 25-year-old clearly loves facing the latter. In just 11 innings against the men in green, he's scored 525 runs at 65.62 with two centuries, including one at Napier.
Pakistan
Pakistan need one of their experienced batsmen to step up to the plate, and Mohammad Hafeez has looked the one most likely to go big.
Currently banned from bowling, the 33-year-old has played an impressive 174 ODIs and registered 42 in Wellington to go alongside a rapid 61 in the Auckland T20.
If the experienced 35-year-old can spend some serious time at the crease in Napier, his side should post a decent total.
Who will win?
Everything seems to be going New Zealand's way at the moment, so expect them to ease to another comfortable victory over the talented-but-inconsistent Pakistan.
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