New Zealand and Pakistan meet for the second time in a Tri-Series which also includes Bangladesh, with the tourists having claimed a comfortable win in the first clash.
Pakistan took the second match of this series thanks to a four-wicket win at the Hagley Oval, with a measured unbeaten 79 from skipper Babar Azam seeing his side home with ten balls to spare.
He and fellow opener Mohammad Rizwan are very much the key to success for the Green Caps, with the latter making 78 not out in a 21- run win over Bangladesh in their previous outing.
Meanwhile, the Black Caps hit back from their loss by sweeping aside the Tigers by eight wickets on Sunday, with left-hander Devon Conway the star of the show with 70 from 51 balls faced.
New Zealand vs Pakistan T20 Tips
With both sides having played twice in this series to date, it is Pakistan who hold the advantage after winning both of their matches, while the hosts have a win and a loss to their name.
Of course, winning this series is not all-important, with the T20 World Cup just around the corner, with Pakistan 7/1 to win the tournament in Australia and New Zealand available at 8/1.
Mohammad Rizwan – Pakistan top runscorer – 19/10
Mohammad Rizwan’s opening partner, Babar Azam, is not only one of the most successful batters in world cricket, but also one of the most elegant strokemakers, even amongst the hurly-burly of T20 cricket.
The classy right-hander evidenced this ability in the previous victory over the Black Caps, with his matchwinning unbeaten 79 containing 11 fours but no sixes, while Rizwan makes it more of a mission to clear the ropes on a regular basis.
The pair can surely lay claim to being the best opening partnership in world T20 cricket and one of them must fire if they are to come out on top in Christchurch on Tuesday.
And, with Babar having done so last time out, it should be Rizwan’s turn to shine, with the explosive right-hander having made just four in the first clash with New Zealand.
His previous two single-figure dismissals in T20Is have been followed by knocks of 88 and 78 not out, so expect Rizwan to impress again this time around.
Most match sixes – New Zealand – SP
In the first meeting of these two sides in this series, it was the hosts who edged the battle to hit most sixes, doing so by four to three.
In fact, Pakistan have not been particularly prolific six-hitters in this format of the game in a majority of their recent fixtures.
Bangladesh outhit them 5-4 in their loss on Friday, while in their seven-match series against England, they only cleared the ropes more times than their visitors in two of those clashes.
With that in mind, it would appear that the home side should be able to hit the most sixes in this latest match-up.
