As cricket fans eagerly anticipate the second T20I clash between New Zealand and Pakistan at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday, January 14, the buzz is growing after the hosts secured a 1-0 lead in the series opener at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Following a convincing victory in the first T20I, the Black Caps are likely to make a tactical change, with Mitchell Santner stepping into the XI, replacing Ben Sears, who had a commendable performance at Eden Park.

The batting prowess displayed by Captain Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, and Finn Allen in the previous match has left fans optimistic about another thrilling encounter. Daryl Mitchell, the star of the opening fixture, delivered an exceptional performance with 61 runs off 27 balls, complemented by notable contributions from Captain Kane Williamson and Finn Allen.

New Zealand’s batting strategy will heavily rely on the top-order batters, including Finn Allen, Devon Conway, and the middle-order trio of Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, and Glenn Phillips.

On the bowling front, the responsibility lies with pacers Tim Southee, Adam Milne, and Matt Henry, along with spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner, to dismantle Pakistan’s batting lineup.

Pakistan, having suffered a setback in the first match, are poised to make two changes, introducing leg-spinner Abrar Ahmad and Mohammad Wasim Jnr. in place of Aamer Jamal and Usama Mir.

In the batting department, Pakistan will count on the likes of Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Azam Khan to put up a substantial score.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Pitch & Weather Report

The pitch at Seddon Park is known to favour both batters and spinners, suggesting a potential high-scoring encounter. With no rain predicted and a comfortable temperature of around 24 degrees Celsius, fans can expect an exciting 40-over match.