Afghanistan v England: Prediction, Tips and Odds

England are under pressure after losing their Champions Trophy Group B opener against Australia and they cannot afford another slip-up against Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Afghanistan v England betting tips and predictions

Mohammad Nabi - Afghanistan Top Bowler @ 5/1

England had Australia on the ropes at times during Saturday's Champions Trophy clash in Lahore before a brilliant unbeaten century from Josh Inglis steered the Aussies to a target of 352.

The early dismissals of Travis Head and Steve Smith left England in charge but Australia's batting depth proved decisive as the English fast bowlers took a pasting later in the innings.

Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Brydon Carse finished with combined figures of 3-226 from 26.3 overs after England's middle-order batters had failed to build on a brilliant 165 from opener Ben Duckett.

England face a tricky final Group B game against South Africa but their immediate focus is on Afghanistan, who beat them by 69 runs in the league phase of the 2023 World Cup in India.

A pre-tournament injury to spinning all-rounder Jacob Bethell upset England's bowling plans and Carse, their middle-overs enforcer, has been ruled out due to a toe injury.

Young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has replaced the paceman in the squad although Jamie Overton is likely to come into the 11 on Wednesday.

England's spinners were more effective than their quick bowlers in the Lahore defeat to Australia and they take on Afghanistan at the same venue.

Veteran Afghan spinner Mohammad Nabi will retire from ODIs after this tournament but he remains a canny operator in 50-over cricket and is worth backing to be Afghanistan's top wicket-taker.

Nabi dismissed two of South Africa's top three in Karachi on Friday, admittedly with a couple of pretty average deliveries.

He finished with 2-51 from 10 overs, while star man Rashid Khan went wicketless, and also tormented England at the World Cup, claiming 2-16 in six overs in October 2023.

Rashid Khan to hit most sixes for Afghanistan @ 13/2

Afghanistan's run-chase against South Africa never got going and it took a composed knock of 90 from Rahmat Shah to keep the margin of defeat down to 107 runs.

Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz lit up the 2023 World Cup win over England with a 57-ball innings of 80, featuring four sixes, but he fell cheaply on Friday.

Only three Afghan batsmen cleared the ropes in their Group B opener and one of them, Rashid Khan, is worth backing to hit the most sixes for his team against England.

Rashid, one of the world's leading white-ball spinners, has also honed his power-hitting during a stellar career in T20 franchise leagues around the world.

He showcased that ability by hitting three sixes in an 18-ball cameo against Australia at the 2023 World Cup and struck the first ball he faced against the Proteas for six.

Rashid has hit a maximum in both of his previous ODI appearances in Lahore, against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and he could land some hefty blows on England's bowling attack.

Ben Duckett to score over 26.5 runs @ 5/6

Ben Duckett's 165 against Australia was a terrific innings in a losing cause and he has grabbed his opportunity at the top of the order in fine style.

Since being promoted to open in September's home series against the Aussies, the left-hander has scored 95, 32, eight, 63, 107, 32, 65, 34 and 165 and he should be backed to make at least 27 on Wednesday.

Afghanistan struggled to create wicket-taking opportunities with the new ball against South Africa, who reached 157-1 in the 29th over.

Proteas opener Ryan Rickelton went on to score 103 and Duckett, who averages 61.9 in six Test matches in Pakistan, could make another big impact in Lahore.

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Afghanistan v England odds

Afghanistan - 11/4
England - 2/7

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.