12BET Predictions: NZ Vs PAK 2020 First Test

New Zealand will face Pakistan in the first Test match this Saturday. Both teams will try to win this match to take the lead in this Test series. New Zealand looks to be the team in form after winning the T20 series and will be the team to beat. However, Pakistan won the final T20 game and will have something to say about that.

New Zealand

New Zealand won recently concluded T20I series against Pakistan by 2-1. Skipper Kane Williamson returned in Kiwi squad for upcoming test series. Kiwi batsman Tom Latham and Will Young will open for New Zealand team in the first test match. Skipper Kane Williamson will play at one-down position in Kiwi batting line-up. He was in good form in T20I series against Pakistan.

Veteran batsman Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls will bat in the middle order. Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell and Daryl Mitchell will play in the lower order. BJ Watling is also another wicket-keeping option in the team. All-rounder Kyle Jamieson will be a vital player for Kiwi team. Jamieson, Neil Wagner and Trent Boult will form pace bowling attack of Kiwi team. New Zealand defeated Caribbean team in recent Test series at home by 2-0. Mitchell Santner is a lone spinner in the squad. They will look forward to defeating Pakistan in this test series.

Pakistan

Pakistan lost recent T20I series against New Zealand. Pakistan played test series last in August 2020 against England. They lost the series against England by 1-0. Permanent Skipper Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq will miss the first test against New Zealand due to injury. In absence of the permanent captain, Wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan will lead the team in this test against New Zealand. Former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed is another wicketkeeper in the squad.

Shan Masood and Abid Ali will open for Pakistan team in the upcoming test against New Zealand. Fawad Alam and Imran Butt will be another batting options in Test squad of Pakistan. Batsman Haris Sohail and allrounder Faheem Ashraf returned in Pakistan squad for this series. Batsman Azhar Ali will play at one-down position in the batting line-up of Pakistan. Allrounder Shadab Khan will play in lower-order for Pakistan team. Leggie Yasir Shah is an experienced bowler in Pakistan team.

Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi will form pace attack of Pakistan team. Speedster Sohail Khan will be another pace bowling option in the test squad.

HEAD-TO-HEAD:

These two teams played each other 58 times where Pakistan won 25 games while New Zealand won 12 games, 21 Tests have been drawn.

PREDICTION:

New Zealand are more likely to win this match as they are the stronger team at home

ODDS:

Kindly Visit 12BET » 12Sports »Cricket

Date and Time

Saturday, December 26 2020, 3.30 AM IST

Venue:

Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

(The odds might change without prior notice)

Enlist for our cricket campaign now and win a lot of exclusive prizes! Sign up now at 12BET, the trusted name in providing complete and accurate sports news, betting odds and more.