Pakistan's batting will be under the spotlight as they attempt to recover from a crushing defeat in the opening T20I against New Zealand. The team was bowled out for a mere 91 runs, with New Zealand chasing it down comfortably in just 10.1 overs. With key players Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam absent and Saim Ayub still recovering from injury, Pakistan will need a stronger showing to avoid another loss.

In the first game, Pakistan introduced debutant Hasan Nawaz and opened with Mohammad Haris, playing his first T20I in two years. Captain Salman Agha stepped in at No. 3 but managed only 18 runs off 20 balls. Despite Khushdil Shah's 32 off 30 balls, Pakistan's batting crumbled as seven batters were dismissed for single-digit scores.

New Zealand capitalized on Pakistan's struggles with a fierce bowling attack led by Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy, who shared seven wickets between them. The Kiwi batters, including Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, and Tim Robinson, then tore apart Pakistan's bowling lineup.

With IPL stars absent, New Zealand is building depth in their squad. Jacob Duffy, with his remarkable spell of 4 for 14 in the first match, will remain crucial in their bowling attack. Meanwhile, Jimmy Neesham's return to the squad may be delayed as the team maintains their winning combination.

Key Players to Watch

Jacob Duffy: Duffy has been in stellar form, claiming 12 wickets in his last five T20Is at an economy rate of 5.54. His spell in the first match showcased his ability to dismantle top orders.

Salman Agha: As Pakistan's T20I captain, Salman will be eager to lead from the front. Although his T20I strike rate currently stands at 81.92, he will need to improve his scoring pace to stabilize Pakistan's batting.

Probable Teams

New Zealand (likely XI): Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (capt), Zakary Foulkes, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy

Pakistan (likely XI): Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (capt), Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammed Ali

Pitch and Conditions

Dunedin's University Oval has seen high-scoring encounters, with teams averaging 9.88 runs per over. In January 2024, Finn Allen smashed 137 to propel New Zealand to 224, ultimately winning by 45 runs. While conditions are expected to remain cool, occasional showers are forecast on match day.

Historical Record

Since 2020, New Zealand has dominated Pakistan at home, winning eight of their last 12 T20I encounters.

Quotes

"[It's] Definitely my home ground, lived here since I was 18, so good to be home... Looking forward to getting out to what I think is the best ground in the country." — Jacob Duffy on playing in Dunedin.