New Zealand v Pakistan 1st T20I – 18/12/2020

New Zealand v Pakistan 1st T20I Preview – Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Predictions – 18/12/2020

New Zealand and Pakistan meet in Auckland for the first of three T20Is.

The home side will be buoyed by their dominance of the Windies before this series, while Pakistan beat Zimbabwe last month.

Discover our free cricket tips and predictions for this fixture.

New Zealand v Pakistan 1st T20I – Match Preview

Pakistan beat New Zealand in their last T20I series in the country back in 2017-18. They came away with a 2-1 success and followed it up with a 3-0 win in the UAE in 2018-19.

However, New Zealand look a different proposition on home soil at present and will fancy their chances of victory.

Where: Eden Park, Auckland

When: Friday, 18 December 2020

Start time: 11:30 IST (06:00 GMT)

Pitch conditions: The pitch at Eden Park can offer help to spin and slow bowlers due to the humid conditions in Auckland. The track tends to get a little better for batting later in matches.

Weather conditions: A generally overcast day will brighten up for the start of this match. Rain is very unlikely and temperatures will be just above 20 degrees.

New Zealand v Pakistan 1st T20I – Latest Odds

Hosts New Zealand are made favourites to win again. They can be backed at 1.44 with 10CRIC.

Pakistan are priced at 2.45 with the same betting site.

New Zealand v Pakistan 1st T20I – Squad News

The big news for Pakistan is that they will have to do without star batsman and skipper Babar Azam.

He broke his thumb in practise and has been ruled out for all of the T20I series.

It means that Shadab Khan should take over the captaincy for this match and the next two T20s that follow. However, he has been suffering a groin problem that ruled him out of the games with Zimbabwe and will need to be assessed ahead of this.

Ross Taylor has been dropped by New Zealand for these matches and Lockie Ferguson is missing with a back injury.

Kane Williamson and Trent Boult are only available for the second and third matches. That is also the case for Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Daryl Mitchell after their inclusion in the Test squad.

Fast bowler Jacob Duffy gets a maiden call to the T20 side that will be led by Mitchell Santer here

New Zealand v Pakistan – Squads

New Zealand v Pakistan 1st T20I – Betting Tips and Predictions

New Zealand are short-priced favourites to win this and it would be no surprise to see them relish their home conditions once more.

However, the outcome could also come down to which team handles their absences the best. No Babar Azam or Kane Williamson gives this match an interesting one.

There are plenty of markets to look at when searching out the best value bets.

Back Tim Seifert to be New Zealand’s Top Batsman

The absence of Williamson could mean that Tim Seifer will bat much higher in the order in this one.

He seems to thrive higher up and it could be worth backing him to be New Zealand’s top batsman at a price 4.33 with bet365.

Siefert struggled for runs in the T20Is against Zimbabwe but it could be worth sticking with him. He looked in better nick during a New Zealand A clash with the West Indies recently and can carry that forward.

Ali to Take His Chance

Haider Ali is an exciting prospect and the loss of Babar Azam means someone will need to step up for Pakistan.

The youngster did well when given a chance against Zimbabwe, hitting an unbeaten 66 in the second T20I.

He can be backed at 4.5 with 22Bet to be his team’s top batsman

Pakistan to have the Highest Opening Partnership

There is a chance Mohammad Hafeez could be pushed up the order to cover for Babar. Abdullah Shafique got into stride as the Zimbabwe game progressed.

It will be a tough ask but backing Pakistan at 2.2 with bet365 to have the highest opening partnership could be value.

Make sure to see our round-up of the best bets and predictions for this fixture.