Pakistan and New Zealand will face each other in the third and the final game of the ODI series at Abu Dhabi. The teams are tied at one game apiece after the New Zealand side came back well from their first game defeat to pile up more than 300 and then restrict the Pakistanis in the middle overs.

Despite the comeback, the Pakistanis continue to remain favourites; 8/13 at Bet Fred as compared to Sky Bet’s offer of 11/8 for the Kiwi win. This could be something to do with the much stronger batting line-up that Pakistan possesses, despite having a bowling that does not have too many back-up options.

Ross Taylor’s successive failures in the two games will put pressure on him and despite being the favourite to top the Kiwi batting – 4/1 at Boylesports – his lack of confidence on these slower tracks may just be a hindrance. Brendon McCullum did well to finally get himself amongst runs – and big ones at that with his century – but it is Martin Guptill who could bat through the innings. Boylesports offers 9/2 for him to top the batting for New Zealand, and he will be one of the favourites to do so. Scott Styris’ return to the team has been anything but productive with the bat, but he did pick up three wickets and should carry on this confidence into his batting as well. Boylesports offers 15/2 for him to top the batting for the Kiwis.

The Pakistanis have a long line-up, allowing the captain Younus Khan to shuffle around the batsmen around depending on the situation. What ensues is that becomes a difficult decision making process for the punters to decide who to bet on. Khalid Latif (5/1 at Ladbrokes to top the batting for Pakistan) has had a couple of good outings in the series, and one hopes he does not miss out of the third game, in a bid to accommodate Umar Akmal (7/1 at Ladbrokes to be Pakistan’s best batsman).

Younus Khan (9/2 at Totesport to top the batting for Pakistan) is under a bit of a pressure as he hasn’t had the best of times, having not scored a fifty since before the Champions Trophy. So too will Shoaib Malik (11/2 at 888Sport to be the best for Pakistan) who was dropped rather inexplicably for the first ODI and will need to re-prove his credentials as a batsman.

Tips:
Favourites: Pakistan (8/13 at Bet Fred)
Top Pakistani batsman: Shoaib Malik (11/2 at 888Sport)
Top New Zealand batsman: Martin Guptill (9/2 at Boylesports)