Pakistan will look to cement their place at the top of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series when they take on winless England at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
The hosts have made an impressive start to the competition, winning both of their opening matches, including an emphatic 87-run victory over England in Rawalpindi in Game 2.
The Men in Green have posted 300+ totals in both matches and defended them with some excellent death bowling and tigerish fielding.
Meanwhile, England find themselves under pressure after defeats in both of their games.
Harry Brook's record-breaking double century put them in pole position in Game 3, but they could not prevent Sri Lanka completing the second-highest ODI run-chase in history.
With the series moving to Lahore and England facing a must-win situation to keep their hopes alive, another high-scoring contest could be in store on a surface renowned for rewarding aggressive batting.
Pakistan v England Tips Summary
Best Bet - Pakistan to win @ 6/5
Alternative Bet - Tom Banton over 27.5 runs @ 5/6
Bet Builder - Hasan Nawaz 2+ sixes, Joe Root 30+ runs & Josh Tongue 2+ wickets @ 25/4
Pakistan v England Prediction
Best Bet: Pakistan to win @ 6/5
It is strange to see Pakistan go into Sunday's clash as the underdogs after impressive wins in both of their previous matches in the tournament.
Shaheen Shah Afridi's side have shown the sort of consistency that has eluded their teams in almost every format during a period of volatility, both on and off the field.
They will be desperate to maintain their hold over England, who crumbled to 215 all out when set a challenging but not impossible 303 for victory in Game 2.
The hosts appear better equipped for the local conditions with their pace trio of Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf capable of exploiting any early movement.
And their left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, who has emerged as one of the stars of the competition after his devastating 6-40 on Tuesday, got more turn than any of England’s tweakers in Rawalpindi.
England's batting remains dangerous, particularly with Brook in sensational form. However, the tourists continue to look vulnerable with the ball and conceded a staggering 430-8 to Sri Lanka despite posting 429-4 themselves.
Pakistan's top order is packed with proven performers like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Salman Ali Agha while finishers Hasan Nawaz and Minhas are in great form with the bat.
Having already beaten England once and with momentum firmly on their side, Pakistan look the most likely winners in Lahore.
Alternative Bet: Tom Banton over 27.5 runs @ 5/6
Tom Banton is firmly establishing himself as an England ODI opener after scores of 73, 126, 57 and 50 in his last four innings.
The right-hander has embraced England's attacking approach and should relish batting on a Lahore surface expected to offer pace and value for shots.
Banton has looked untroubled early on and always seems quick to punish wayward bowling in the powerplay.
A line of 27.5 runs appears within reach for him if he can negotiate Afridi's dangerous opening burst.
Pakistan v England Bet Builder Tip
- Hasan Nawaz 2+ sixes
- Joe Root 30+ runs
- Josh Tongue 2+ wickets
Pays 25/4
Nawaz has struck 12 sixes in six ODIs for Pakistan, including two against Sri Lanka in Game 1 and four against England in Game 2.
He can clear the boundary more than once again in Lahore.
Root remains England's most dependable ODI batter and continued his excellent record against Pakistan with another fluent contribution against Sri Lanka.
The former captain has scored heavily against Sunday's opponents throughout his career and 30 runs is well within his range.
Josh Tongue can also weigh in with a couple of wickets on Sunday as he faces a team he tormented during last summer’s Test series in England.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
- Pakistan have won both of their matches in the Tri-Series
- England have lost both of their matches in the competition
- Brook scored 202 against Sri Lanka, the highest individual ODI score by an England batter
- Pakistan have scored 305 and 302-9 in their two matches so far
- England scored 429-4 against Sri Lanka but still lost by two wickets
- Minhas claimed career-best figures of 6-40 against England
- Nawaz struck 79 from 74 balls in Pakistan's win over England
Tactics, Form and Team News
Pakistan have little reason to alter a settled side that has won back-to-back matches. Babar Azam remains the key figure at number three, but the emergence of Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas has significantly strengthened the hosts.
Predicted Pakistan line-up: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
Josh Tongue is expected to retain his place after replacing Sonny Baker, while Liam Dawson may keep Adil Rashid out after returning the most economical figures on Thursday.
Predicted England line-up: Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue.
Read more cricket betting tips and predictions on site.
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.
