New Zealand vs Pakistan 2025 Match Preview, 3rd T20I

New Zealand and Pakistan will continue their five-match T20I series in the third game at Eden Park, Auckland on Friday, March 21. The home team is leading the series 2-0 after winning the first two matches in emphatic style.

The series began in Christchurch where, after winning the toss, New Zealand bowlers destroyed the Pakistan top order (a bit of it was self-destruction as well though). The visitors folded for mere 91 runs as Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy scalped seven wickets between them. The Kiwis completed the chase very easily with nine wickets in hand and 59 balls to spare.

Pakistan started in a better manner in the rain-curtailed 15-over-a-side second match. However, they were not able to post a defendable score as New Zealand openers started the chase of 136 with a bang. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen were dealing in sixes and reduced the required run rate considerably to allow batters to come to finish the game comfortably. The home side won the match with five wickets in hand and 11 balls remaining.

As the series moves to Auckland, a lot of questions remain to be answered for the visitors. Their batting has been poor on some occasions and bowling ineffective to a large extent. Opener Hasan Nawaz, who is playing his first series as an international player, has not been able to score so far. He might be replaced with Omair Yousuf or shifted to a different position in the batting order. Shaheen Afridi has given no returns with the ball and was smashed for 26 runs in an over by Tim Seifert in the second game. Pakistan would want him to improve his game and be the force he has shown he can be.

For New Zealand, their bowlers have been fantastic. They have utilised the home conditions to their advantage to the fullest and caused immense trouble to the Pakistan batters during certain phases of the game. Their batting is clicking well, in general, and more would be expected from the middle order in case the openers fail in some match.

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