The T20 series between Pakistan and England is nicely poised at two games each after Pakistan won a thriller in the fourth match on Sunday. So with the fifth T20 coming up on Wednesday, we name our free cricket betting picks on the next match, as well as for the remainder of the series.
The fourth T20 between these sides was an absolute thriller. Pakistan had the match won. England had three wickets remaining and needed 33 runs from 18 balls. A run rate of 11 an over. It was Pakistan's match to lose.
Then Liam Dawson scored 24 runs off the 18th Over off the bowling of the luckless and hapless Mohammad Hasnain. This left England needing just nine runs from two Overs (12 balls). Suddenly, it was England's match to lose.
Another four runs came from the second ball of Haris Rauf's over. England now needed five from 10 balls. Then out of nowhere, Liam Dawson holes out to substitute fielder Mohammad Haris, and all of a sudden England are relying on the out-and-out bowlers to get them the five runs required to win.
The very next delivery brought another wicket as Rauf clean bowled new batter Olly Stone for a first baller, meaning England needed five runs with just one wicket remaining.
England could only manage to get one of the five runs as Reece Topley was run out off the second ball of the final over, giving Pakistan the victory, and leveling the series at two games each.
What a finish! 🤯
Pakistan win by 3️⃣ runs to level the T20I series against England! 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/M5SuDiCe8g
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 25, 2022
So, the series now moves to Lahore for the final three matches. The first of the three games are on Wednesday, with the next on Friday, and the final match on Sunday. It's now effectively a best of three series.
Pakistan v England; All You Need To Know
Unlike a lot of series held in American sports, the seventh match will still be played even if it's a dead rubber (one team has an unassailable 4-2 lead). The remaining fixtures are:-.
- 5th Match - Lahore, Wednesday, September 28th, 2022 - 10.30 am ET
- 6th Match - Lahore, Friday, September 30th, 2022 - 10.30 am ET
- 7th Match - Lahore, Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 - 10.30 am ET
The venue for the three remaining matches is the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This will mean the England players will need to get used to new conditions again.
As these are night matches, things like moisture and dew can be a factor as the temperature drops, and this in turn can play a role in how the ball and pitch behave. So the team that reads the conditions best, can give themselves a huge advantage.
Obviously, the Pakistani players play here more than the English guys do. So they will be looking to cash in on that extra knowledge. But if England can somehow overturn the odds and win on Wednesday, it will put them in a series-winning position as the sixth and seventh matches are also at this venue. But for those matches, England will know the conditions better.
As for Pakistan, this is their chance to get a lead for the first time in the series. So Babar Azam’s team will be looking to cash in. But given the up-and-down nature of this series, who knows how things will pan out?
In the latest cricket betting odds the best online sportsbooks can't separate the two sides. It just about sums up the series really. Every time one team looks on top, the other side fights back. It has been a very even and competive series.
Pakistan v England Betting Picks
Pakistan is yet to be ahead in this series, so they will be looking to make their move at this crucial moment. They will be aided by the fact that England seems to be rotating players, and skipper Jos Buttler isn't expected to play this match either.
The English rotation seems to be down to a couple of reasons. In the bowling department, England is nursing guys back from injury.
Pace bowler Mark Wood is returning from injury. He played the third match of the series to great effect, and then sat out the fourth fixture. He's expected to feature in two of the three remaining matches. But will it include the fifth match?
On the batting side, England has chopped and changed to give fringe players a go. Established top-order batters like Alex Hales and Dawid Malan have sat out matches in order to give squad players a match.
While this plays into the hands of the Pakistani team (who are actually doing a similar thing), it doesn't guarantee the hosts a win. But it has to be said that the Pakistani fringe players should be able to handle these conditions better than the England players.
Only back England if Wood plays
Moving onto the match on Wednesday, the aforementioned Mark Wood took 3/24 from his four overs in the third match.
If Wood plays in the fifth match and performs like that, then England has a great chance. If Wood doesn't play, then England doesn't have that express pace bowler to trouble the Pakistan batters, especially their exceptional openers.
Our Bovada sportsbook review has more great betting offers from this well respected sportsbook.
For my match pick in the fifth T20, I will be going for England to win. But only if Mark Wood plays.
If Wood doesn't play, I will be making Pakistan my betting pick. I feel he makes that much of a difference.
As for my cricket betting pick to win the series, I'm going for the hosts Pakistan. England is playing too experimental sides to win the series. This gives the advantage to Pakistan and makes them better value overall.
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