New Zealand will go in as the favourites when they take on Pakistan in the second one-day global at Napier, however with injuries hampering the squad and a seemingly out of form top order it is going to be far from a done deal. McClenaghan was forced to exit the game and visit a nearby hospital where doctors found that the ball had fractured the bones around the eye. New Zealand could also include Test specialist wicket-keeper BJ Watling and that means Luke Ronchi willl have to sit out. However, at one stage, Pakistan was dominating as they took 6 wickets under 100 runs, but later on, they ended up giving 280 and failed to chase the target. The home team will be eyeing to seal the three-match ODI series after a conincing win in the 1st match.
Advertisement
Doug Bracewell has been named a replacement for McClenaghan for the remainder of series by the hosts.
Hard to see New Zealand losing this one. They’ve got a few options up their sleeve and they’re rotating the guys.
Paceman Trent Boult, the top-ranked bowler in ICC’s ODI ranking, bagged four wickets for 40 runs while spin-bowling all-rounder Grant Elliott finished with 3-43.
Pakistan’s struggles in the ongoing series have been well documented but the series has not been without positives for the side.
But, the biggest cause of concern would be the weather.
Advertisement
Rain is again forecasted for Napier on Thursday, which may cause some chaos, and probably not a whole lot of cricket. McLean Park hasn’t been a fast drying ground in the past, with the West Indies ODI in December 2013 abandoned in bright sunshine when the shaded area in front of the main grandstand was deemed unsafe.
