For the first time in more than 20 years England will compete in a live match on the BBC on Sunday when they go up against Pakistan in the second match of the three game series. Rain denied the two sides on Friday but the weather looks much better for this game.
Both sides go into this match knowing that whoever wins it will be unable to lose the series and with the weather the way it is at this time of the year that could be invaluable in any quest for a series win. That should ensure we get another competitive game.
England
Of the 16 or so overs that we saw on Friday night there was good and bad from England. The good was obviously Tom Banton who blitzed this Pakistan attack but it shouldn’t be forgotten that he was dropped early on so that could have been much different. The rest wasn’t really all that great but most of the batsmen have had a hit out in the middle now and they will be asked to step up to the plate and make more of a collective impression here.
The interesting thing will be how England finish their batting innings and how they bowl. They are the two areas of focus heading into the series and annoyingly the rain came just as we were going to find out a little about one of those issues. There is no excuses here though so we should get to see if the new breed can propel a total late on. England’s attack wasn’t as inexperienced as it might have been but it is full of players who have a point to prove.
Pakistan
Of the two sides there is no doubt that it is Pakistan who will have been more annoyed to see the rain when it came on Friday. They were just positioning themselves in a good spot to push for the win despite taking the full force of the Banton blitz. We saw everything about this Pakistan bowling attack in that first game. They are hard to get away to begin with and as the death overs approach they turn it on again.
Historically the weakness of this Pakistan side has been their batting and we are yet to see how that will fare in these conditions but the one thing that you would say is looking at the side they picked in that first game, there is depth to the batting and definitely no shortage of quality. They still have to deliver the goods but with bowlers of the class they have to back them up a lot of the pressure will be taken off those batters.
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Team News
I would imagine with a limited overs series with Australia to come, England will want to get all their players in action before these matches end but at the same time it is a huge thing for them to be playing free to air so the changes to the side might have to wait for Tuesday.
Pakistan were just getting themselves in a position to challenge in the first game when rain denied them. They don’t need to make changes but it was a surprise that Wahab Riaz was left out of the opener and it wouldn’t be a total shock if he comes in for this one.
Betting
I took Pakistan to win the opening match of the series and given the position they were getting themselves into I don’t see any point in deserting them now, especially as the pitch might be a bit used now which is only likely to help them further. I keep going back to the fact that England don’t play this format competitively very often and when they do they always bring different personnel into their side so players getting to know their roles and delivering them as they are expected to is not easy. This Pakistan side are a pretty slick outfit. The rain denied them on Friday but I don’t think they’ll be denied here.
The other bet I took in the first match on Friday night was for Sam Billings to top score. Admittedly I didn’t foresee him coming in below Moeen Ali but unless Eoin Morgan is out I’m not sure they’ll make that mistake again as having two left-handers in at the same time is just a recipe for disaster against this Pakistan unit. We know Billings is in good touch and if Pakistan do get rid of Banton early there could be an opening for someone in the middle order to top score. He was 10/1 on Friday but he is 14/1 here. I’m priced in again.
Tips
Back Pakistan to beat England for a 3/10 stake at 2.38 with Bet365
Back S.Billings Top England Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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