What a series it’s been so far between Pakistan and England and we still have one Test to go! The two teams will square off in the 3rd Test from Karachi starting this Saturday afternoon and as always, we have you covered with a full preview and cricket betting tips below.
Pakistan vs England 3rd Test Betting Tips
2nd Test Review
Another great Test that went down to the wire unfolded in Multan as England claimed the win by just 26 runs. It was an even contest between bat and ball from start to finish with the four innings totals reading 281, 202, 275 and 328.
Pakistan gave themselves a chance to win going into Day 4, needing just 156 heading into the days play with six wickets in the shed. After losing Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz in the first session, it was down to the bowlers, who put up a solid fight but ultimately fell short.
Harry Brook continued his stellar series with a hundred in England’s 2nd innings while Mark Wood solidified himself as the England spearhead with a brilliant 4/65 in the final innings.
Pakistan
Predicted XI: Abdullah Shafique, Imam ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali, Zahid Mahmood, Abrar Ahmed
Pakistan made some changes to their line-up in the 2nd Test, brining in leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf. The pitch will dictate what they decide to do for the 3rd Test much more than their counterparts, but I think at least one of the pace bowling duo of Naseem Shah or Haris Rauf has to come back into the side here.
England
Predicted XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Jack Leach
Any potential line-up changes for the touring side will likely be down to fatigue/rest and whether they feel the need to bring wicketkeeper Ben Foakes back into the line-up to lighten the load on Ollie Pope. Anderson has suited up in both Tests so far and with the series done and dusted, I think he is the most likely pacemen for a rest, but Robinson could also have a spell.
Match Prediction
It’s been a tough series to predict and I firmly believe we would have won at least one of those Pakistan selections if the home side was able to win the toss and bat first in either Test. As is so often the case in the sub-continent, the toss has a massive impact on the result, but probably a touch less in a dead rubber where key players will be rested and teams play a little more freely.
At this point you just have to expect that the English are going to have a few partnerships throughout the course of a Test match that are going to break it wide open in their favour. Their batting line-up looks really cemented at the moment after finding the missing link in Harry Brook at No.5. Back them to continue their remarkable Baz Ball run here.
