Pakistan vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI Preview: A humdinger on cards as Dubai awaits the decider

With momentum at stake for both sides, players will certainly run an extra mile to help their team get over the line.

Published - 10 Nov 2018, 19:01 IST | Updated - 10 Nov 2018, 19:01 IST

2 Min Read

In the second ODI, Pakistan registered their first win in this format against a top-six side in 2018 and they did so in a thumping way. The action now shifts from Abu Dhabi to Dubai as both sides now prepare for the final showdown of what has been an exciting and entertaining ODI series.

The Kiwi bowlers who were flying high in the first game were caught cold in the second. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman made a mockery of them and romped through the run chase quite easily. Their batting unit faltered as well, giving Kane Williamson a lot to think about going into the final game.

The hosts will be given a stern test in these challenging conditions and this is a great chance for Sarfraz Ahmed to prove their credentials in the 50-over format, which hasn’t been great in the last few months. With momentum at stake for both sides, players will certainly run an extra mile to help their team get over the line.

Playing Combinations

Pakistan

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will continue to open with their stalwart Babar Azam coming in at three. Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed have a point to prove with the bat and will be desperate to get some runs. Shaheen Afridi has been the pick of the Pakistani lineup thus far and he will be accompanied by Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan in the bowling unit.

Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi

New Zealand

George Worker will get another game to prove his worth and will open alongside Colin Munro. The Blackcaps will be banking on the experience of Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham to battle out the tricky middle overs. They will go with only one spinner in Ish Sodhi alongside three seam bowlers in Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

Probable XI: Colin Munro, George Worker, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

Focus will be on

Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan)

One of the senior most cricketers in the Pakistani setup, Mohammad Hafeez’s good form can mean a world of good for the side. They need his experience in the upcoming World Cup and for him to book a ticket to England in June 2019, he needs to get some runs as soon as possible. The coming few months are going to be very crucial for the 38-year-old.

Ish Sodhi (New Zealand)

The tall leg-spinner will be hoping to find some grip in Dubai to try and trouble the batsmen with his turn. Ish Sodhi can turn the ball a hefty distance and the long boundaries in Dubai will be a bonus. But to outsmart subcontinent batsmen with spin is no walk in the park and he will have a hard time in the middle.