Pakistan will look to avoid a fifth successive Test defeat on home soil when they welcome New Zealand for the first of a two-game Test series beginning at the Karachi National Stadium.
The hosts, who come into the series on the back of a 0-3 series defeat at the hands of England – the final of those Tests in Karachi – are 5/6 favourites to take the first Test, with New Zealand priced at 13/5 and the draw 3/1. New Zealand also come into this game on the back of a 0-3 reverse at the hands of England in the summer.
For Pakistan, Babar Azam, despite defeat in Karachi, notched half centuries in both innings and was Pakistan's top batsman. Azam has scored at least one half century in seven consecutive Test matches. His run of first innings scores is 78, 75, 136, 16, 119, 67, so form dictates that an Evens bet on a 50 in his first innings is great value.
Azam is also favoured to take the Top Batter market at 11/4, a feat he achieved in Karachi in the third Test against England last week. Another Pakistani batsman in form is Saud Shakeel, he has scored four half centuries in his last six innings – he's a 7/1 price to win the Top Batter market.
For New Zealand, it was Daryl Mitchell who was in fine form during the summer – he was the Top New Zealand batter in all three Tests against England. In his last seven innings Mitchell has scored three centuries and three half centuries. He is out at 28/1 to be the Top Batter in the match, very much worth a punt if he plays.
Another batter in form is wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. He scored 55, 88* and 106 in his last three innings in Test cricket and he is 50/1 to take Top Batter honours. Of course, New Zealand haven't played the longest form of the game since the summer, so be wary even at the enticing odds.
Mystery spinning sensation Abrar Ahmed will certainly get some consideration on the spin friendly surface in Karachi. Ahmed has taken six and 11 wickets in his two games so far, and is priced at Evens to take six wickets or more in the game. Nauman Ali is also an option in the Over/Under (O/U) wickets market – his line is set at 4.5 and he'll certainly have the opportunity to hit the over at 6/5.
No seamer took more than two wickets in the most recent Test at Karachi, so the Under will be the play on both Neil Wagner and Tim Southee for New Zealand, U4.5 wickets priced at 8/13 for both quick bowlers.
