PAK vs NZ prediction: Match win and toss – 3rd ODI

 

Match prediction: Pakistan to win
Toss prediction: Pakistan to win the toss and field first

If you were worrying that you had accidentally stumbled on a preview from the third T20I instead of the third ODI then you would have good reason to think so. Once again, Pakistan have raced into a 2-0 lead over New Zealand but, as we all know, the visitors very rarely give up any series without a real fight. Our Pakistan vs New Zealand prediction for this game, which could decide the series, is for a closely contested clash with both teams believing they can get the win. One thing is for sure, this PAK vs NZ game will not be overly one-sided!

  • Wednesday, May 3rd, 15:30 PST
  • National Cricket Stadium, Karachi

Pakistan vs New Zealand match preview

Pakistan

Although it would be unfair to say that no-one else has made a significant contribution in the series, it would certainly be accurate to state that Fakhar Zaman is enjoying himself against this New Zealand bowling attack. The 33 year old left-handed opener has already delivered 297 runs from two inings in this series after scores of 117 and 180*. Haris Rauf had the New Zealand batters on toast during the T20I series and he is once again leading the attack in this format. And when you still have Babar Azam delivering 49 and 65, you know the team is in good health. With the hosts in such form it is hard to have a PAK vs NZ prediction without suggesting a home victory!

Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Ihsanullah

New Zealand

The Black Caps may well be 2-0 down in this series but only a fool would out the possibility of a comeback from the team with the never-say-die-attitude, even when they have their second string side out! But one of their players who would be one of the first names on the team-sheet even with all players available, Daryl Mitchell, has made successive centuries and is proving to be New Zealand's very own Fakhar Zaman. The main area where New Zealand do look a little short is in their bowling and that could well be critical in this game.

Probable XI: Chad Bowes, Will Young, Tom Latham (c) (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister

Pitch and expected weather conditions

We are expecting to find a wicket with more pace than Saturday's offering in Rawalpindi. A par score will be over 350 on this surface which should encourage the stroke-making batters.

Hot and humid throughout, welcome to Karachi! The temperature is forecast to not dip beneath 28 degrees but to go as high as 33 degrees in the opening exchanges.

Pakistan vs New Zealand prediction

Match prediction: Pakistan to win 

Our Pak vs NZ prediction in this third ODI is for a close game but with Pakistan edging it. Fakhar Zaman is playing in the form of his life and you get the impression that if he were to fail that one of Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan would immediately step up against this limited New Zealand bowling attack.

Toss prediction: Pakistan to win the toss and field first. 

As is often the case in Karachi, the humidity levels are expected to go through the roof in the second half of the match. As a result, we anticipate that both captains will want to give their bowlers the best chance by bowling with a dry ball in the first innings of this third ODI.

Man of the match prediction: Fakhar Zaman

The left-handed Pakistan opener is targeting an astonishing fourth successive century in this format with all of his last three coming against New Zealand this year. And worryingly enough for the Black Caps, the first one of this run came at the venue of this game – Karachi! In his form, we can not recommend anyone else for the Man of the Match Award.

Betting odds

Being 2-0 up in the series, it is no surprise to see Pakistan at 1.40 to secure the series. However, New Zealand are 3.00, which are shorter odds than they were in the last two ODIs.

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