Will Young to replace injured Josh Clarkson in New Zealand's third T20I against Pakistan

New Zealand opening batter Will Young will be replacing Josh Clarkson in the third T20I against Pakistan.

New Zealand commenced their five-match T20I series against Pakistan with an impressive display, securing a convincing victory in the opening match. The batting skills of Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell propelled the hosts to a formidable total of 226 for 8. The duo’s notable fifties set a strong foundation for New Zealand’s innings, showcasing their skill and determination.

In response, despite a fifty-run contribution from Pakistan’s Babar Azam, Kiwi bowlers, led by the seasoned Tim Southee, put on a remarkable show. Southee’s economical bowling figures of 4 for 25 played a pivotal role in dismissing Pakistan for 180, clinching a 46-run win for New Zealand in the first T20I encounter. This victory sets a positive tone for the further matches of the series and bolsters the confidence of the home team.

Will Young to replace Josh Clarkson

However, as the team prepares for the third T20I against Pakistan in Dunedin, New Zealand faced an unfortunate setback. Josh Clarkson, originally slated to fill in for the injured Kane Williamson, had to withdraw his name from the squad due to a shoulder injury sustained while playing for Central Districts in the Super Smash. Will Young was named as his replacement for the match scheduled on Wednesday.

Will Young, with an impressive T20 track record, brings substantial experience to the squad. Having participated in 97 T20 games, he has accumulated 2290 runs at an average of 26.62, including 14 fifties and two centuries. In his 14 T20Is, Young has scored 260 runs at an average of 20.00 so far. Although his strike rate in T20Is is marginally lower at 102.36 compared to his overall T20 strike rate of 133.83, his inclusion is expected to provide stability to the team’s batting line-up.

While Young gears up for his role in the third T20I, Kiwi camp will be anticipating the return of Kane Williamson for the last two T20Is scheduled in Christchurch on January 19 and 21. As the teams prepare to depart for Dunedin on Monday, New Zealand squad remains focused on maintaining their winning momentum and addressing the challenges posed by injuries to key players.

New Zealand Squad for the third T20I against Pakistan

Kane Williamson (c) (matches 1, 2, 4 and 5), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Will Young (match 3 only), Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson (matches 3, 4 and 5), Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears (matches 1 and 2), Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

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