HAMILTON, New Zealand, Jan 16, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat as they look to salvage some pride in the fourth one-day international against New Zealand in Hamilton on Tuesday.
“It looks like a good pitch, so hopefully we can make a good score,” the tourists’ captain Sarfraz Ahmed said.
New Zealand have already won the five-match series after taking a 3-0 lead in Dunedin on Saturday and are chasing a record 11th consecutive win in all formats of the game.
Pakistan are desperate to improve after being skittled for just 74 in their last outing.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was unperturbed about losing the toss, saying conditions early in the match should suit his pace attack.
“We were actually going to have a bowl,” he said.
“In some of these day-night games perhaps you’ll get a bit of dew later on.”
Both sides have made one change apiece, with Pakistan batsman Haris Sohail replacing Azhar Ali and Black Caps allrounder Colin de Grandhomme in for Todd Astle.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.
Pakistan: Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees.
Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG), Wayne Knights (NZL)
TV Umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)