Dunedin (January 13, 2018): New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat in the third one-day international against Pakistan at University Oval, Dunedin today.
It’s a must-win game for Pakistan to keep their chances of winning the series as the Kiwis have already won two matches of the five-match series.
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Separately, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has called on his bowlers to be more accurate in the final overs. Though New Zealand are already 2-0 in the five-match series but Williamson is not completely happy, especially with the bowling to lower-order batsmen.
Green Shirts practised very hard to take on Kiwis in the third One Day International match in University Oval stadium in Dunedin today as they are two down in a five-match series versus the hosts New Zealand.
The Black Caps have stuck with the same side from Nelson, despite the availability of allrounder Colin de Grandhomme, back from bereavement leave after his father’s death.
Pakistan have made one change, opener Fakhar Zaman returning at the expense of Imam-ul-Haq. While The hosts have opted to not change its team combination for today’s match.
New Zealand lead the five-match series 2-0 after rain-affected wins in Nelson and Wellington.
New Zealand Squad:
MJ Guptill, C Munro, KS Williamson (c), LRPL Taylor, TWM Latham, HM Nicholls, MJ Santner, TD Astle, TG Southee, LH Ferguson, TA Boult
Pakistan Team:
Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees
Pitch and conditions
The University Oval has one of the slower pitches in New Zealand, so the spinners may look to make an impression. Overcast conditions could see swing play a big role, although rain is unlikely.
In an earlier ODI in Nelson, Martin Guptill was at his belligerent best as the hosts thrashed Pakistan by eight wickets in Nelson on Tuesday, although captain Kane Williamson admitted a rain delay had done the hosts a favor.
The second one-day international was evenly poised when rain forced the players from the field for more than two hours with New Zealand 64 for two after 14 overs in reply to Pakistan’s 246 for nine.
When play resumed under the Duckworth-Lewis system New Zealand’s target was revised to 151 in 25 overs meaning they had 11 overs left to make 87.“Pakistan showed some real resistance at the end and put some partnerships together which would have been a tricky total on that surface,” Williamson said, adding the rain break “worked in our favour a little bit”.
But the New Zealand skipper also hailed the “brilliant” partnership involving Guptill and Ross Taylor to get New Zealand home with seven balls to spare.Guptill, 31 off 40 at the break, was 86 not out off 71 deliveries at the end. Taylor advanced from 14 in as many balls to 45 off 43.
“For Martin and Ross to come out after that rain break… and play so beautifully and to see Martin play with freedom at his best was great to watch,” Williamson said.
“And (with) Ross a calming influence at the other end… it was a brilliant partnership to get us across the line.”
It left Pakistan winless after two rain-affected matches in New Zealand with both decided under the Duckworth-Lewis method.“We are very disappointed with our batting,” said captain Sarfraz Ahmed. “The first 10 overs is very important and we lost too many wickets in the first 10 overs.“Our batting is not performing well but later on our lower order batted really well.”
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