England vs Pakistan 4th ODI Prediction

If PAK Bat First

Predicted Score: Around 280

They were dismissed before the completion of 50 overs for the second consecutive time in this series. Sharjeel Khan scored 58 and waged a lone battle as others kept falling around him. Sarfraz Ahmed looked promising but could not go on to make a big one. He, however, has been the most consistent of all in this series with scores of 55 and 105 from the first two games, and has a better chance of top-scoring for Pakistan in the fourth ODI. Azhar Ali and Babar Azam batted well in the first game and the team will expect good scores from them on Thursday. With Sami Aslam and Shoaib Malik not up to the mark, Pakistan will need these four batsmen to perform if they are to reach the predicted total.

The top four bowlers in the series are all from England which sums up the hosts' bowling performance. Chris Woakes took four wickets in the last match and is leading the wickets list with a total of eight wickets in his kitty. He has been in top form since the test series and looks set to be the top bowler for his side yet again. Mark Wood, who picked up three wickets in the second game, is also bowling well and he together with Woakes will be given the charge of shaking up Pakistan's top order. Adil Rashid has been their second best bowler with five wickets so far, and it won't be good news for Pakistan if he too gets into the act.

Eng vs Pak Head-to-Head in ODIs

In their last 13 matches in England, the hosts have 8 wins while Pakistan have 4 wins with one of these matches not producing a result. The last four of these games have all been won by England.

The two teams have gone up against each other three times at Headingley with England leading 2-1. The most recent game here in September 2010 was won by the hosts.

Our Prediction

England have taken an unsurpassable 3-0 lead in the series and are growing stronger with every match. They have been clinical in their performance, be it batting or bowling. Pakistan, on the other hand, are looking down and out at the moment and it seems that they have run out of plans. Their bowlers, who had so much hopes pinned on them, have failed to tie up the formidable English batting lineup. They will have to lift themselves up and act fast, otherwise they risk being whitewashed.

With the series already gone, Pakistan now have nothing to lose and they will be playing for pride. Also, England might want to test their bench strength and could be willing to give a few of their relatively inexperienced players some international exposure. This is where the visitors will feel they have an outside chance. Moreover, England have never finished off a season being undefeated in limited-overs cricket and only once have they been able to whitewash their opponents in a series of five matches or more.

Pakistan should be very much in the game if its bowling attack regains the lost sharpness and England show a little complacency in their approach. But since we don't see this happening anytime soon, we'll be backing the hosts here to win one more time.