Pakistan conclude their short tour of New Zealand this week when they battle their hosts in the second of the two Tests matches when the two sides compete at Hagley Oval in Christchurch in a match with plenty of meaning for a number of reasons.
New Zealand are not just playing for a second series win in as many months but a win in this match will see them move to the top of the ICC rankings until at least the end of the Australia-India series. They only need a draw to claim the series though. Pakistan need to win this match to leave New Zealand with a share of the spoils.
New Zealand
We saw near enough the perfect New Zealand performance in the first Test, the sort of display they have been giving on home soil for five years or more. They were patient with the bat making sure that they broke the back of the match in the first innings and then applied constant pressure throughout their two bowling innings, not resorting to panic when it looked like Pakistan might escape with a draw on the final day of the contest.
That is what makes New Zealand so good in this format. There is no desire to have to win the match as quickly as possible and as a result of that they make few mistakes making them very hard to beat. Their batsmen all have good records in this format of the game, especially in home conditions, and they have a bowling attack that can utilise all conditions, whether it is seam, swing or spin. A win here will complete a whitewash of Test wins this summer.
Pakistan
Given all the issues they have had on this tour you have to give Pakistan credit for putting up a really big fight in the first Test and if there is any natural improvement in them ahead of this second match then they could well make things awkward for New Zealand. When you consider this is a side who are missing their captain and one of their better all-rounders, to almost come away from the Bay Oval with a draw.
To be fair their fighting effort probably deserved a draw because it is not easy to be playing from so far behind for so long. What they did show in that opening game is that they can tame this Kiwi attack when they are batting so if their key bowlers can come good with the new ball and get New Zealand under pressure in their own batting innings then things could get very interesting indeed. You sense the first day or two will be important here.
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Team News
New Zealand have been forced into one change to a winning side with Neil Wagner ruled out with a couple of fractured toes. His replacement has been confirmed as Matt Henry in what is an otherwise unchanged XI.
Pakistan were hoping to have their captain Babar Azam back for this match but it has been confirmed that he is still not fit. That means Mohammad Rizwan will most likely lead the same starting XI into battle here.
Betting
I’ll side with the same bet I took in the previous match which was a winner then and I expect it to win now. That is the performance of BJ Watling where the line has risen slightly to 95.5pts but which still doesn’t feel high enough given both how well he is looking with the bat in that number six role for his country as well as how good his seam attack is finding the outside edge for him to collect catches by the bucket load which all contribute to his performance total.
He ended up scoring 158 points in total in the first Test without making a huge contribution with the bat. He is certainly capable of that but the fact he took eight catches highlights the high chance he has of covering anything below 100 here. Even two average innings with the bat will be enough with the catches that are naturally going to come along but anything substantial with the bat in his hand will see him obliterate the line again. I like the over here.
Tips
Back BJ.Watling’s Performance – Over 95.5pts for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Betfair
Back him here:
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