PAK vs NZ prediction: Match win and toss – 5th ODI

 

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

With Pakistan 4-0 up in this PAK vs NZ ODI series, the only question left unanswered at this stage is will the home side be able to produce one more win and record a 5-0 thrashing of the Black Caps? Based on other performances in this series, it looks highly unlikely that the visitors will be able to keep pace with the hosts and a 100% record for Babar Azam's side is expected by most observers. Read on as we cover all of the main areas of interest ahead of this fifth ODI and produce our final Pakistan vs New Zealand prediction.

  • Sunday, May 7th, 15:30 PST
  • National Cricket Stadium, Karachi

Pakistan vs New Zealand match preview

Pakistan

No one was complaining when Fakhar Zaman hit centuries in the opening two matches of the series or when Imam-ul-Haq top scored in the third but Pakistan cricket fans were just about starting to question what was happening to Babar Azam after he had hit scores of 49, 65 and 54. But they need not have worried as the skipper hit 107 in the fourth ODI and in the process became the fastest player in this format to reach 5000 runs (97 innings). This match will be Azam's 100th ODI and with Pakistan now ranked number one in the ODI rankings, they will be full of confidence ahead of this game.

Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris, Mohammed Wasim, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi

New Zealand

It has been a tough tour for New Zealand's second-string players and they showed plenty of character to come back from 2-0 down in the T20I series to level 2-2. However, the ODI series has been a bridge too far and, in spite of some good individual knocks with the bat at times, and Matt Henry's consistent wicket taking ability in the last two matches, they have been comfortably second best. 27 year old medium pace bowler Ben Lister made his ODI debut in the fourth game of the series and we expect him to retain his place for this final fixture.

Probable XI: Will Young, Tom Blundell (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c), Mark Chapman, Henry Nicholls, , Cole McConchie, Ben Lister, Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry 

Pitch and expected weather conditions

With the pitch slowing from the third to the fourth ODI, we can expect a slower wicket in this game with spinners coming to the fore. That said, a par score will be 300+ if wickets are not thrown away early in an innings.

Another hot and humid day in Karachi to end the series. The humidity levels could reach the high 60% mark by the end of the game with the temperature likely to be in the mid-30s earlier in the match.

Pakistan vs New Zealand prediction

Match prediction: Pakistan to win 

Not only have Pakistan got themselves to 4-0 up in the series, but they have rested and rotated players along the way. As the home side, they were always going to be favourites in this series, but they have proved themselves to be stronger in every department and at the crucial moments. Our Pak vs NZ prediction is for Pakistan to end the series with a victory to make it 5-0.

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

Throughout the series, each team who has won the toss has chosen to field first and we do not expect that streak to end ahead of this ODI. No one will want to field with high humidity and both teams will want to have a target to chase on Sunday.

Man of the match prediction: Haris Rauf

The quick right-arm bowler returned to the team after being rested for the third ODI and got straight back into the groove with two more wickets. During this tour of Pakistan, 19 New Zealand wickets have fallen to Rauf's bowling and we would be surprised if he did not add significantly to that tally in this match.

Betting odds

Interestingly, and in spite of Pakistan winning the fourth ODI by 102 runs, the hosts are 1.45 to win this match, a slight lengthening of their odds. New Zealand have their shortest odds of the series and can be backed at 2.62.

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