NZ v PAK 2020: Ideal playing XI for both teams for the third T20I

New Zealand clinched the three-match T20I series against Pakistan by winning their second match on the trot. Pakistan bowlers made it difficult for New Zealand batsmen to coast through to a win. But Skipper Kane Williamson and Tim Seifert steered their team to a dominating nine-wicket victory.

After choosing to bat first, Pakistan once again suffered a top-order collapse. Veteran batsmen Mohammad Hafeez fought a lone battle and took his team to a respectable total of 163/6 in the end. His majestic knock of 99 in 57 balls included ten 4's and five 6's. None of the other batsmen except Rizwan (22) crossed 20 runs.

For New Zealand, Tim Southee starred with the ball as he took a 4-wicket haul (4-21) and destroyed the opposition's top order.

4️⃣/2️⃣1️⃣ and Player of the Match in the second T20I 🔥 🇳🇿 Tim Southee continues to fly at the highest level...2️⃣9️⃣2️⃣ internationals 5️⃣7️⃣1️⃣ wickets 1️⃣5️⃣ five-fors and a ten-wicket haul WHAT A GUY 😍 pic.twitter.com/tmhhQLFvrw

— ICC (@ICC) December 20, 2020

In the chase, Guptill and Seifert gave a quickfire start. After Guptill departed, Tim Seifert continued his golden run of form by scoring 84* off 63 balls to ensure New Zealand remained unbeaten this summer. Kane Williamson was the perfect foil for Seifert, scoring 57* in 42 balls. The duo stitched an unbeaten 129-run partnership to take New Zealand to the shores of victory without any hiccups.

Both the teams will now shift their focus towards the last T20I of the series. New Zealand will look for a clean sweep while Pakistan will look to salvage their pride.

Ideal Teams for the second T20I

The McLean Park, Napier, will host the 3rd T20I of this series. Historically, the venue has been a batsman's paradise. 191 is the average first innings total at this ground, and it reduces to 154 in the second innings. Also, 241/3 scored by the England team against New Zealand in 2019 is the highest T20I total recorded here. English batsmen Dawid Malan's 103* is the highest individual score at this venue.

Until now, New Zealand has played two T20Is here. In 2017 they faced Bangladesh and defeated them comfortably. In 2019, they suffered a heavy 76-run defeat at the hands of the rampaging England team.

Kane Williamson hits his 12th fifty in T20Is!This is his third half-century in his last four T20I innings 👏 #NZvPAK 👉 https://t.co/zNO2cxvs94 pic.twitter.com/vNpZUXQWKD

— ICC (@ICC) December 20, 2020

Kane Williamson made a match-winning 73* in 55 balls in the only game he played at this ground in 2017. That should augur well for the home side. Williamson has been on a roll lately as he notched up his third fifty in the last four matches. He will look to continue in the same vein of form as New Zealand continues to build momentum for the upcoming T20I World Cup.

With Mitchell Santner sitting this match out, New Zealand team management might not alter their playing XI. They might think of giving some rest to James Neesham as he has been playing continuously in the white ball games for them. All-rounder Daryll Mitchell might replace him.

💥 374 runs @ 93.5🥉 Third-highest run-scorer in men's T20Is in 2020😯 Strike-rate of 153.9Mohammad Hafeez has had a stellar year in T20Is 🎉How good was his 9️⃣9️⃣* in the second #NZvPAK match? pic.twitter.com/XdgMg8uhOc

— ICC (@ICC) December 20, 2020

Pakistan will look to end the series on a positive note. Their batting has looked out of sorts in both the games. Their bowling has been inconsistent and failed to contain the New Zealand batsmen.

Wahab Riaz has been ineffective in both the matches. The team management might rest him for this game. Aggressive fast bowler, Mohammad Hasnain, will most probably replace him in the playing XI.

Pakistan might not make any changes in the batting order. They would ideally want to give more opportunities to promising youngsters like Abdullah Shafique and Haider Ali at the international level.

New Zealand's ideal XI:

Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert (wk), Kane Williamson(c), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Scott Kuggeleijn, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi

Pakistan's ideal XI:

Mohammad Rizwan(w), Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan(c), Khushdil Shah, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Hasnain, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf