The 1st T20I of the New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2024 will see the clash between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Thursday, 18 April 2024. Keep reading to find out the PAK vs NZ Match Prediction for 1st T20I New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2024 .
Match Preview
In their previous T20I series held in New Zealand, the hosts dominated Pakistan, securing a convincing 4-1 victory. As they gear up for another showdown, this time on Pakistani soil, fans eagerly await yet another exhilarating contest between the two cricketing giants.
The series opener witnessed New Zealand claiming a commanding 46-run win over Pakistan. Daryl Mitchell’s explosive 61 off 27 deliveries, complemented by Kane Williamson’s composed 57 off 42, propelled New Zealand to a challenging total of 226/8. Despite Babar Azam’s valiant 57, Pakistan fell short against Tim Southee’s formidable bowling, which yielded 4 wickets for 25 runs.
In the subsequent match, New Zealand clinched a hard-fought 21-run victory. Finn Allen’s scintillating 74 off 41 balls, alongside Kane Williamson’s brisk 26 off 15, guided New Zealand to a competitive total of 194/8. Despite Babar Azam’s resilient 66 and Fakhar Zaman’s aggressive 50, Pakistan succumbed to Adam Milne’s impactful 4-wicket haul.
The third T20I saw New Zealand sealing a dominant 45-run win over Pakistan. Finn Allen’s sensational 137 off 62 deliveries powered New Zealand to an imposing total of 224/7. Despite Babar Azam’s valiant 58, Pakistan struggled against Tim Southee’s disciplined bowling, managing just 179/7 in their chase.
In the fourth encounter, New Zealand secured a comfortable 7-wicket victory over Pakistan. Mohammad Rizwan’s stellar 90 off 63 balls guided Pakistan to a competitive total of 158/5, but Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 72 and Glenn Phillips’ 70 steered New Zealand to victory.
Pakistan bounced back in the fifth T20I, claiming a convincing 42-run win. Mohammad Rizwan’s steady 38 and Fakhar Zaman’s brisk 33 propelled Pakistan to 134/8, while Iftikhar Ahmed’s 3/24 and Mohammad Nawaz’s 2/18 restricted New Zealand to 92 all out in 17.2 overs.
Team News
Pakistan Team News:
Ahead of the match, no new injury updates were reported. However, Pakistan faced the absence of pace bowler Haris Rauf for the series due to his ongoing recovery from a shoulder injury.
New Zealand Team News:
New Zealand faces setbacks as Finn Allen grapples with a back injury, and Adam Milne nurses an ankle ailment, leaving them short-handed in the upcoming matches.
The present form of teams
Pakistan:
In their recent five matches, Pakistan’s form has been inconsistent, with their latest encounter resulting in a victory. However, prior to that win, they faced four consecutive losses. Despite their recent triumph, the team will need to maintain consistency and build momentum to ensure continued success in upcoming fixtures.
New Zealand:
On the other hand, New Zealand’s recent form has also been unstable, with their latest match ending in a win. Prior to this victory, they suffered four consecutive losses. While their recent success is encouraging, the team will be eager to address any lingering issues and strive for improved performance in their upcoming matches.
Venue Stats
Content
Pitch Report for Today’s Match PAK vs NZ 1st T20I
The pitch at the venue is characterized by its slow and dusty nature, favoring spin bowling. Pace bowlers can exploit the surface’s inherent unevenness, extracting variable bounce. Batting conditions are challenging, resulting in relatively low-scoring matches. In the first innings, teams typically average around 153 runs, with an average of 7 wickets falling. During the second innings, teams average 155 runs while wickets fall around 3.
Weather Forecast for Today’s Match PAK vs NZ 1st T20I
On matchday in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, the temperature stands at 28.4°C with broken clouds dominating the sky. Cloud cover is around 92%, with a minimal chance of rain at 0%. The wind speed is approximately 9.80 kmph. Overall, conditions are favorable for cricket, with the possibility of occasional cloud cover but a low likelihood of rain disrupting the match.
PAK vs NZ Predicted XIs for Today’s Match
Pakistan’s Predicted XI:
Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Azam Khan (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan/Mohammad Amir
New Zealand’s Predicted XI:
Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Tom Blundell (WK), Ish Sodhi
Pakistan vs New Zealand head-to-head:
Let’s have a look at the head-to-head record for the PAK vs NZ prediction. This will help us to understand who will win today’s New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2024 1st T20I prediction or who has a higher chance of winning between Pakistan vs New Zealand.
PAK vs NZ head-to-head in T20I
| PAK vs NZ Head-to-Head Record | |
| Total Matches Played | 39 |
| PAK Won | 21 |
| NZ Won | 17 |
| No Result | 01 |
| Tied | 0 |
PAK vs NZ Toss Prediction:
Given the prevailing conditions, the captain who wins the toss is anticipated to opt for fielding initially. This decision aligns with the conventional strategy in such circumstances, where teams often prefer to assess the pitch and weather conditions before making batting decisions, aiming to gain an early advantage in restricting the opposition’s run-scoring opportunities.
Here is our PAK vs NZ ODI Match Prediction
Case 1: If Pakistan Bats first
First Innings score prediction: Pakistan will score 175-185
Result prediction: Pakistan will win the match by 15-25 runs
Case 2: If New Zealand Bats First
First Innings score prediction: New Zealand will win the match by more than 155-165
Result prediction: Pakistan will win the match by 6 wickets
PAK vs NZ Today Match Prediction:
In their first-ever meeting, Pakistan has the home advantage over New Zealand, giving them an edge and making them the likely favorites to clinch victory in the match.
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Disclaimer
Match Predictions are for entertainment purpose only. We don’t get involved in or promote betting or gambling. Also, we strongly discourage behaviors of participating in illegal activities related to cricket. Our experts try to be as correct as possible, but we do not guarantee 100% correctness.
