Khushdil Shah and Tim Seifert [Source: @BLACKCAPS/X.com]
New Zealand and Pakistan will meet in the second T20I on Tuesday, March 18, at 6:45 AM IST at Dunedin's University Oval. The hosts enter the game with momentum after a commanding 9-wicket win in the series opener.
Electing to bowl first in the first T20I, New Zealand’s pace attack dismantled Pakistan’s batting order with clinical precision. Kyle Jamieson (3/8) and Jacob Duffy (4/14) spearheaded the demolition, supported by Ish Sodhi and Zakary Foulkes, as Pakistan collapsed to 91 all out.
When the Kiwis came to chase, Tim Seifert’s explosive 44 off 29 balls set up the chase, and despite his dismissal, Finn Allen and Tim Robinson steered New Zealand to victory in just 12.1 overs, sealing a 1-0 series lead.
Here are the top three captain and vice-captain choices for NZ Vs PAK 2nd T20I.
3. Khushdil Shah
Why Will Khushdil Shah Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-captain?
Khushdil Shah has faced New Zealand for four T20I matches to date and has scored 75 runs in that match at a strike rate of 93.8. While this data is not exciting, fantasy team creators cannot underestimate the fact that he was the sole top scorer for the Men in Green in the last T20I match and has a chance of proving himself again should the top-order collapse.
Besides backing him for another performance with the bat, Shah is also a very good bowler with a decent economy rate of 5.82 against New Zealand in ODIs. Hence, being able to contribute in both departments, Shah can be a prized possession for fantasy teams
2. Tim Seifert
Why Will Tim Seifert Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-captain?
Seifert is an explosive batter as was seen in the first T20I and he also boasts 374 runs against Pakistan in T20Is at a strike rate of 130.8 which makes his selection as captain or vice-captain of the fantasy team plausible.
Notably, in Dunedin's pitch, Seifert boasts a strike rate of 153.5 and a solid average of 40.2 in 7 T20I matches which makes him a dangerous batter against Pakistan who can build innings as an opener and bag multiple fantasy points.
1. Kyle Jamieson
Why Will Kyle Jamieson Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-captain?
Kyle Jamieson was New Zealand's second wrecker-in-chief against Pakistan in the first match with three scalps to his name. Against Pakistan, Jamieson's economy rate has been 6.84 in T20Is and has a strike rate of 16.0 which makes him a potent choice as a captain to strike on a pace-friendly Dunedin pitch.
Though Dunedin has not been Jamieson's best ground to bowl to, he can be effective and stifle runs and be responsible for top-order tumbles of the Men in Green in the 2nd T20I, making him a reliable fantasy team captain.