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After a wash-out at Napier in the second ODI the series between New Zealand and Pakistan moves its attention to Eden Park in Auckland for the third and final match, with New Zealand ahead one game to none. Join The Roar for live scores of the match from 9am (AEDT).
New Zealand could receive a massive boost for the game, with a very unlikely inclusion of Brendon McCullum. He was due to return in this third One Day match against Pakistan, but the back injury he sustained earlier in the summer against Sri Lanka continues to hamper him.
New Zealand have plenty of other injuries to worry about. Tim Southee, Ross Taylor and Mitchell McClenaghan will all be sitting out.
Of course, New Zealand have been playing a stack of cricket this summer. Test matches in Australia, a series against Sri Lanka and then the Twenty20 internationals, plus one day matches against Pakistan.
The Twenty20 series between New Zealand and Pakistan was similarly three matches. New Zealand were able to win that series two games to one, after taking the final match by a very impressive 95 runs. Corey Anderson was the key man there, scoring 82 runs from 42 balls and he will again need to step up if New Zealand are to close out the series.
In the first match of the series, New Zealand recorded a crushing victory as they got up by 70 runs. After a general failing from their top order, Henry Nicholls steadied the innings, scoring 82 runs from 111 balls. With Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi only scoring 15 runs between them the pressure was applied to the tail.
After Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir and Anwar Ali all bowled fantastically early, others couldn’t back it up and the tail elevated New Zealand’s score to a very difficult chase of eight for 280. Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry would both end up with 48.
In reply, Pakistan could only manage to be bowled all out for 210 after 46 overs. While Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez would offer some resistance, it just wasn’t enough and the New Zealand bowlers led by Trent Boult (4/40) and Grant Elliot (3/43) were never be put under pressure.
In Napier for the second One Day match, not a ball was bowled as it was washed out due to rain and poor weather. That means that the best Pakistan can do from here is a draw in the series.
Prediction
Hard to see New Zealand losing here as they build for the Australian series around the corner.
Join The Roar for live scores of this match from 9am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below as the match unfolds.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde