England v Pakistan first T20I: Prediction, Tips and Odds

England and Pakistan begin their preparations for next month’s T20 World Cup at Headingley in the first of four internationals in eight days.

A grim weather forecast for Leeds is casting a shadow over the build-up to Wednesday evening’s clash with both sides desperate to get some game-time in before the start of the World Cup in the Caribbean and the US next month.

It’s a repeat of the last T20 World Cup final, which England won by five wickets and Jos Buttler’s side will be confident - weather permitting - of seeing off Pakistan again.

England v Pakistan first T20I betting tips and predictions

Will Jacks - England - Top Batter - 7/2

England are 4/9 to beat Pakistan (7/4) in the first of four T20 showdowns which is short enough given that it’s the first run-out of the summer for Jos Buttler’s men.

Pakistan have already played a series ahead of this tour - a three-match battle with Ireland, a contest they won 2-1 after losing the first match.

That will have removed some of the cobwebs but also cemented doubts over whether Pakistan can cope with a side as explosive as England, whose top order is one of the most exciting in this format of the game.

You would imagine, so close to the start of the World Cup, that head coach Matthew Mott and Buttler will want to make a statement and probably pick the team they most want to start the tournament.

A front five of Phil Salt and Buttler to open, Will Jacks at three, Jonny Bairstow at four and Harry Brook looks pretty much set in stone and presumably will be selected at Headingley.

All have claims to land top batter honours with Jacks the pick at 7/2 to carry on his fine form from the IPL.

Jacks is one of several IPL stars who have hot-tailed it back from the sub-continent where he has been starring alongside the likes of Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis and Cameron Green in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s world-class batting unit.

In his last match before flying home he thumped 41 off 29 balls against Delhi, though that was some way short of his stand-out knock of this campaign, an unbeaten 100 off just 41 balls, featuring 10 sixes, in a nine-wicket demolition of Gujarat Titans.

The 25-year-old Surrey star, one of only three men to have clobbered a century in the Hundred, is going to be a key figure in the Caribbean and can hit his stride against Pakistan in Leeds.

Babar Azam Under 27.5 Runs - 5/6

There is pressure galore on the shoulders of Babar Azam, the Pakistan captain who still seems to have to justify his place in the side.

Not as explosive as many of his peers, Babar is generally the glue who holds his team together, as was the case in Ireland earlier this month where he clocked up two half-centuries in three innings.

The third outing was a four-ball duck and England’s attack, spearheaded by Jofra Archer and on a different level to Ireland’s, will ask far more questions of Babar.

His match runs for over/under betting have been posted at 27.5, a score he has failed to reach on five of his previous international T20 knocks in England, including his one previous visit to Leeds. Bet under at 5/6.

Highest Individual Score Under 71.5 Runs - 5/6

It’s going to be gloomy at best at Headingley on Wednesday, conditions that will suit the bowlers and quite probably contribute to a low-scorer.

The proliferation of 200-plus scores in T20 cricket shows the advances being made in this format but this could easily be a return to something more prosaic, especially if a few overs are lost to the forecast rain.

To that end, 71.5 runs looks high enough in the 2-way highest individual score betting.

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England v Pakistan first T20I odds

England - 4/9
Pakistan - 7/4

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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.