England vs Pakistan 3rd ODI Prediction

If PAK Bat First

Predicted Score: Around 260

Their batting has taken a setback with Mohammad Hafeez ruled out of the remainder of the tour with a calf strain. Sami Aslam was brought as the opener in his place and he too failed to click. So Pakistan are going to need the big scores from skipper Azhar Ali, Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed. Ahmed is their leading scorer so far with a fifty and a century in the two games and he should be backed to top-score. Pakistan should get to around 260 if these three bat well and Shoaib Malik contributes from the middle-order.

Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett continue to be the key in the English seam attack. Woakes, in particular, has troubled the Pakistani batsmen the most on this tour, and he will be England's best bet to take wickets upfront. The visitors will also be watching out for Mark Wood who took three wickets in the previous game. Their specialist spinner Adil Rashid is also doing well and he will have a big part to play in the middle stage of the innings. If Pakistan lose the in-form Ali and Ahmed for cheap runs, they will have a hard time getting to the predicted score.

Eng vs Pak Head-to-Head in ODIs

England have won seven while Pakistan have won four of the last eleven ODIs that have been played between the two teams on English soil. Both have won three times each in the six matches at the Trent Bridge. The most recent contest at this ground back in September 2006 was won by England by 8 wickets.

Our Prediction

England clearly seem to be the more dominant side in this ODI series. They are doing a great job in every department of the game and they made Saturday's victory look like a walk in the park. Pakistan's bowlers haven't been able to create the same kind of terror with the white ball as they created with the red one in the test series. So their batsmen will need to put up some extra runs on the board. But the way the English fast bowlers are bowling, a big score coming from the visitors looks less likely.

Pakistan will be playing under a huge pressure in this must-win game, and although they do have the resources for making a comeback, we feel that England have the psychological advantage and momentum with them to win this match and secure the series.