England vs Pakistan 1st ODI Prediction

If PAK Bat First

Predicted Score: 270-290

Sharjeel Khan and Azhar Ali are likely to open the batting. While Ali is their in-form batsman at the moment, Sharjeel will be coming from a brilliant knock of 152 against Ireland. Mohammad Hafeez normally plays attacking strokes and Pakistan will benefit if he is able to add some valuable runs at a fast pace. Shoaib Malik is the most experienced batsman in the side and middle-order batting is going to depend on him. Pakistan will be counting on these four to take them to a big first-innings score.

England are going to depend mainly on their faster bowlers to do the job. The loss of David Willey will hurt them of course, but they still have a good pace attack in Chris Woakes, Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett. Pakistan will be fearing Woakes the most as he was terrific with the ball in the test series. Adil Rashid took four wickets the last time England played at this ground which makes him a bowler to watch out for. If Pakistan lose their top three early on, they will struggle to reach the predicted score.

Eng vs Pak Head-to-Head in ODIs

The two teams have so far played 76 one-day internationals against each other. England boast a superior record with 45 wins as opposed to Pakistan's 29. Two of these games did not produce any result. 

Both teams have one win each in the two face-offs at the Rose Bowl. The most recent match here was won by the hosts by 121 runs in 2010.

Our Prediction

Pakistan have played three ODIs at this ground and have faced defeats on two occasions. The only game they won here was played back in 2006 against England. The hosts themselves don't have an impressive record here for a home ground with six wins and seven losses in the thirteen matches. Moreover, they have been losing at the Rose Bowl since the last five matches which is something that won't do their confidence any good.

Pakistan did the unexpected by squaring the test series 2-2 and they will now go into the ODI series with much more self-belief. We, however, are backing England to win this first one-dayer and end their losing streak at the Rose Bowl.