Pakistan vs New Zealand, New Zealand tour of United Arab Emirates 2018/19, Today Match Prediction 09 Nov 2018

pak vs nz Match Prediction & Analysis

After the hammering in the T20Is, New Zealand bounced back strongly to win the 1st ODI against Pakistan. Thanks to Trent Boult’s hattrick early in Pakistan’s innings that the guests were able to topple the home team at their fortress.

It would have been terrible if not for Sarfaraz Ahmed and Imad Wasim who provided the fightback from 3 for 8 to get to a position where they could go for the win. But once Sarfaraz was dismissed it looked beyond Pakistan and they eventually crumbled.

New Zealand, on the other hand, won the moments with bat and bowl. Every time the game looked like going away from them, they dealt a blow. Enough of those secured first win for them on the tour so far.

PAKISTAN PREVIEW

It must have been terrible for Pakistan to be on the wrong side of great swing bowling in the 1st ODI against New Zealand. Pakistan are supposed to do to the oppositions what Trent Boult did to them in the first ODI.

It was, however, a monumental effort to get to 217 eventually from a position of 3 down at 8 runs on the board. Thanks to the captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and contribution from Imad Wasim in the lower middle order that Pakistan were able to do more than saving face in the 1st ODI.

Shadab Khan, earlier in the New Zealand innings, was on a hattrick as well but missed by a whisker. He completed 3 wickets in that over same over though. Shadab would be looking to produce something similar in the second ODI if Pakistan are to topple the guests and save the series.

New Zealand have drawn the first blood in the ODIs, it is time for Pakistan’s fightback.

NEW ZEALAND PREVIEW

First win after 7-month exile from International cricket came for New Zealand in the first ODI against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi after a 3-0 hammering in the T20I series. That win must have been sweeter given that they managed to eke out a hattrick by Trent Boult.

They themselves did not start well and found themselves 3 down before they put 80 on the board. Ross Taylor along with wicketkeeper Tom Latham put on a partnership before New Zealand had a mini-collapse from 2 for 208 to 7 for 210, thanks mainly to great spin bowling from Shadab Khan.

Some blitz from lower order helped them reach 266 eventually which proved too much for Pakistan in the end. Lockie Ferguson was also instrumental with three wickets to break the lower order resistance.

New Zealand would have to improve their batting at the top order to beat Pakistan who would come back strong in the second ODI.

Weather Conditions

Patience is the key at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in the UAE. It supports seamers initially and then offer enough spin for the spinners to apply the brakes and take out a few of wickets in the middle phases of the game. 250 is not just a fighting but a winning total at this venue. The team winning the toss should look to bat first here, as New Zealand did in the first ODI.

Toss: