England vs Pakistan Match Prediction: Pitch prediction, Key Players, Who will win today’s match

England vs Pakistan Match Prediction: TSR presents the pitch prediction, key players and the expected winner of 4th ODI between ENG and PAK

Having lost 14 of their last 26 matches, to say that Pakistan are in a spot of bother would certainly be an understatement. The spot has widened and is staring at them for quite some time now.

Coming after a five-nil whitewash by Australia in their ‘adopted home’- the UAE, the last thing that Pakistan would want is to lose yet another series, especially at the World Cup venue. Although they cannot win the series as they are 0-2 behind, they can still at least draw the series level if they win the remaining 2 matches against the ever-confident England side.

Nevertheless, talking about the positives, Pakistan have managed to post an excess of 350 in the previous two matches they have played so far in the series. With the bowling attack of both the teams looking in a disarray, team Pakistan can still hope of a turnaround by some inspired bowling performances, which they are very well capable of for sure.

Talking about today’s match venue- the Trent Bridge. Yet another venue with absolutely ‘nothing’ in for the bowlers.  In two of their last three completed matches, England have twice ransacked their own record for runs in a single innings – 444 for 3 against Pakistan in 2016, and a world-record 481 for 6 against Australia last summer. 8 scores in excess of 400 have been scored at this venue since 2016, in the List-A matches.

Thus, if this not explains what we are about to witness tomorrow, I don’t know what will. It’s going to be an absolute run- fest, an absolute carnage until the sides become way too complacent and fall apart- which is not going to happen for sure.

Pitch Prediction

The pitch is expected to be slightly unsettled and a cooler weather is forecast for Friday, though it is expected to stay dry. The pitch is expected to be good, as ever- excellent for batting along with some assistance for the seamers.

England vs Pakistan- What numbers suggest?

Till date, the two sides have fared up in 84 one-dayers so far. England have a better overall head-to-head record having won 51 of those matches, while Pakistan have managed to triumph on 31 occasions. The remaining 3 matches did not fetch any result.

In England, the two teams have faced each other on 10 occasions in a bilateral series. Pakistan have won just a single series way back in the year 1974, when they defeated them  2-0 in the Prudential Trophy. Barring that, they have lost the remaining 9 series while playing against England in England. Most recently they lost 1-4 against them in the year 2016.

These sides have met seven times at Trent Bridge, with England holding a 4-3 win-loss record.

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Key Battles

Babar Azam vs Jofra Archer

Having scored 51 off  52 in the second ODI at Southampton, Babar Azam fell cheaply after his brief stint at the crease, courtesy a brilliant delivery from Chris Woakes which cleaned Azam up in the 3rd ODI. Before the delivery, he had struck Woakes for a couple of brilliant boundaries and looked good as far as he was out there.

Jofra Archer, on the other hand, is expected to return back to the playing eleven after missing the 3rd ODI at Bristol. He will be very keen to make a mark for himself in a bid to claim his place in the England World Cup squad.

He bowled with a quick pace, bounce and movement off the deck in the 1st ODI and impresses one and all, although having bowled only 4 overs in the match.

Thus, a contest between Pakistan’s best batsman (as believed by many) and England’s best ammunition yet to bamboozle in English colours can definitely be the one battle you might wish to witness.

Jonny Bairstow vs Junaid Khan

With 15 fours and 5 sixes, Jonny Bairstow annihilated the Pakistani bowlers scoring 128 off 93 deliveries. Although no bowler could trouble him, he was still undone by Pakistan’s left-arm pacer, Junaid Khan as he bowled a delivery that stayed a tad low, only for Bairstow to undercut it onto his stumps.

Bairstow was visibly angry with himself as he had a wonderful opportunity to score a double ton with the way he was going on unabated.

Junaid Khan will once again look to get Bairstow out, more cheaply today though, and stake his claim in Pakistan’s playing eleven in the World Cup. It will be a contest to watch out for, as it will be interesting to see how Bairstow approaches against Junaid, who can be a tricky customer with his quick pace and deliveries angling into the right hander.

England vs Pakistan- Match Prediction

Pakistan registered 358-9 in the third ODI at Bristol, only to be chased down by England with 31 balls to spare and 6 wickets in hand. There has to be at least a couple of inspired bowling performances to stop this English batting juggernaut.

With Imad Wasim going for plenty in the middle overs, there isn’t any other proper spinner in the Pakistan side who can contain the English batsmen during the middle overs.

Moreover, with England’s leggie Adil Rashid likely to be back in the playing eleven tomorrow, he can be the solution to England’s bowling woes in the middle overs. But for Pakistan? Hope they have an answer because we do not.

The batting department clicked for both the teams, but this English batting line-up doesn’t seem to end at all.

Thus, with the form England are in, especially their batting line-up, it apparently seems to be yet another ‘easy-peazy’ for England. Moreover, they are playing in their home conditions and have just recently posted the highest ever total in the history of One-Day Internationals at this very same venue.

Thus, it is England all the way even in the 4th ODI, but you never know when it’s Pakistan as your opposition.