The Tri-Series tournament has made its way down to the final as the hosts New Zealand take on Pakistan for what would be a confidence boosting title ahead of the T20 World Cup, which is just days away now.
These two teams picked up a win against each other in the regular stage of the competition and now they will do battle for the title but also to completely finalise their plans for when they get to Australia next week.
New Zealand
After losing their opening match of the tournament to Pakistan, New Zealand have been largely untroubled since then and will go into this final feeling good about themselves. You would imagine over the initial four matches they have played in this competition that they will have worked out their best combinations so we should see them play out in this final. They might make one change when the T20 World Cup comes along but that will only be injury related.
The New Zealand top order came to the party in the previous match and it is important that they do it again here. I don’t think much of a form guide can be taken out of how they played against Bangladesh but if they can do it against this solid Pakistan attack then they will have all the confidence they need heading into the tournament next week. This final is basically another run out for rhythm for their bowlers.
Pakistan
Given that they had already made the final with a match to spare, it was a little surprising that Pakistan didn’t make wholesale changes to their team for the win over Bangladesh on Thursday. The fact that they didn’t tells us they are happy with their side and will probably go into this final with a similar XI and look to give those players another chance to build up some confidence as they look to win the T20 World Cup for the second time.
There are still concerns about Pakistan being so reliant on their top two in the batting order but that pair deliver so often that perhaps they are happy to take their chances of them continuing to do that throughout the World Cup and lead them to glory. It seems a little late in the day to be giving players who haven’t had game time an outing but other than a couple of uncompetitive matches in Australia next week this is their last match before they take on India in the first game of the World Cup.
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Team News
You would imagine we will see New Zealand at their strongest for this match which should mean a return to the XI for captain Kane Williamson. Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Adam Milne could be the seam attack.
Pakistan haven’t played Haris Rauf for the last couple of matches but they are likely to bring their gun seamer back for this final. He could come back into the side in place of Mohammad Hasnain who was expensive against Bangladesh on Thursday.
Betting
This should be a good game of cricket. Both teams have played pretty well to make it here and although it isn’t as important as next week I still think both sides will want to win it having come this far. I think at the prices Pakistan might be worth a go in this one. I’m not convinced by the New Zealand batting order. I think they have a problem fitting Kane Williamson into it and he isn’t exactly in the best form anyway.
Much has been made of the fact that Pakistan are so reliant on their openers and it true that they are but one or both of them deliver so regularly that we are starting to look stupid worrying about what if they both fail. Pakistan beat New Zealand when Haris Rauf was in their side. He took three wickets. He didn’t play the match they lost to the Kiwis but with him expected to be recalled here I think he could be the difference between two evenly matched sides. At the prices I’ll go with Pakistan to win here.
Tips
Back Pakistan to beat New Zealand for a 3/10 stake at 2.30 with William Hill
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