Pakistan v New Zealand 1st Test at Dunedin preview and tips

Pakistan and New Zealand will face off against each other in the first test match at Dunedin, of low-key test series, brightened by the presence of the tourists and their current controversies.

Rather strangely, and despite the recent results that Pakistan has had in their favour, the Kiwis go into the first test match as favourites. Sky Bet offers 15/8 for a New Zealand win, as compared to Boylesports’ 2/1 for Pakistan to go up 1-0 in the series. Bet365 gives the possibility of a draw a reasonably high chance and offers 2/1 for the teams to end in a stalemate at the end of the five days. With rains never too far away from the city of Dunedin, it is only natural that a draw is expected.

Pakistan will be led by their third captain of the year in Mohammad Yousuf (4/1 at Boylesports to top the batting for his side) and he will need to lead the way with the bat as well. Khurram Manzoor (6/1 at Ladbrokes to be the best batsman for Pakistan) will open the batting with one of Salman Butt, Imran Farhat or the make-shift who had opened in their last series, Fawad Alam (5/1 at 888Sport to be the best batsman for his side). In the absence of Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik’s presence in the middle order will count for a lot. Add that to the fact that Malik had been indirectly held responsible in some quarters for Younis Khan’s ouster, and the batsman will want to prove his detractors wrong by allowing his bat to do the talking; Sky Bet offers 5/1 for him to best his side’s scores.

For New Zealand, the injury issues with Jesse Ryder have not yet been resolved. Peter Fulton’s (15/2 at Totesport to top the Kiwi batting) call-up has surprised him too, but it is more to do with the lack of depth of skills in the country than anything else. Tim McIntosh (5/1 at Ladbrokes to be their best batsman) has been afforded another opportunity, as has Daniel Flynn (5/1 at Bet Fred to top the Kiwi batting), but it is Martin Guptill (5/1 at Ladbrokes to be the top scorer for his side) who will be looked up to by his skipper to provide the New Zealanders a good start. Guptill has cemented his place in both, the ODIs and the T20Is, and will like to repeat the same in the tests as well.

Speaking of skippers’ wishes, Daniel Vettori will want not to be called upon to bat too early in the game, and perform the rescue act as he has been consistently. Despite Betfred’s offer of 10/1 for him to top the innings for his side, he has done more than his bit as a batsman, and the odds could be very tempting for someone who likes to take a little risk here and there.

Tips:
Favourites: Draw (2/1 at Bet365)
Top New Zealand batsman: Ross Taylor (4/1 at Totesport)
Top Pakistan batsman: Mohammad Yousuf (4/1 at Boylesports)

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Tags: Daniel Vettori,  Fawad Alam,  Khurram Manzoor,  Mohammad Yousuf,  New Zealand,  Pakistan,  Ross Taylor,  Shoaib Malik,  Younis Khan