NZ vs PAK 2nd T20I | Playing 11 Prediction, Cricket Tips, Preview & Live Streaming

Daryl Mitchell struck a blistering 27-ball 61 in Auckland [X.com]

After a comprehensive win in the opening T20I in Auckland, New Zealand strive to put Pakistan under greater heat and pressure with another victory in the second match of the five-game series in Hamilton on Sunday (January 14). 

For Pakistan, this would be a must-win clash, for a defeat would probably put the series honours too far out of their reach, but a positive outcome could bring them right back into the contest. 

NZ vs PAK: Team Previews 

New Zealand

The Kiwis would've been delighted with a win in the first game after a robust performance where Finn Allen, skipper Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman provided them the blitz and veteran Tim Southee delivered a match-winning spell of 4 for 25 on the flattest deck in the country. 

What the BlackCaps would still be eyeing, however, is another encouraging performance from their lead wrist-spinner Ish Sodhi, who did pick up a crucial wicket of Fakhar Zaman and gave away a reasonable 33 runs off three overs on a small-sized venue at the Eden Park in Auckland but has tended to be expensive quite regularly. 

Sodhi is critical to New Zealand's build-up towards the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, and his finding form and stranglehold on Pakistan batters would be part of the management's wishlist before travelling to the Caribbean & USA. 

Pakistan

Abbas Afridi was impressive in 1st T20I [X.com]

For Pakistan, the match has to be set up by their lead quicks - skipper Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf - or else the rest of the attack is found crumbling under pressure, which then puts the scanner on the team's brittle batting unit to do the heavyloading. 

While Rauf was still quite decent with his spell of 2 for 34 in Auckland, Shaheen was woefully more expensive than ideal, conceding 46 runs off his four overs for three wickets. Young quick Abbas Afridi was their only real gain in the first half with his figures of 3 for 34 off four overs. 

Where Pakistan lost the plot and control was when New Zealand hammered the inexperienced Aamer Jamal and Usama Mir for horrific 0/55 and 0/51, respectively. Pakistan would be hoping for those two to come out unscathed in the next outing and help the team level up the series. 

NZ vs PAK: Match Details & Live Streaming

NZ vs PAK: Seddon Park Pitch Report 

The trend of flat pitches for T20Is in New Zealand is expected to continue for the second match of the series as well. Given also the common small boundary dimensions across the country, this could be another high-scoring clash between these two exciting teams. 

NZ vs PAK: Probable Playing XIs

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Aamer Jamal, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi (c), Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf

NZ vs PAK: Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips

NZ vs PAK: Winner Predictions

With momentum and better depth of resources up their sleeves, New Zealand retain the favourites tag for the second T20I of the series. 

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