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A series marred by poor weather finally comes to a close on Thursday evening as England faces Pakistan in the fourth and final T20I. With the first and third games abandoned without a toss, and England securing a victory in the only match played at Edgbaston, both teams are eager for a decisive contest. The fixture is set to begin at The Oval, London, at 18:30 local time on May 30th.
Team Preparations Ahead of the T20 World Cup
With England’s first match in the 2024 T20 World Cup scheduled for Tuesday, we anticipate several changes in their lineup to ensure all squad members gain some game-time. Nevertheless, England’s depth in quality should see them as favorites to win at The Oval.
Pakistan, on the other hand, will be keen to deliver a strong performance as their World Cup opener is on Wednesday. Despite the loss at Edgbaston, there were promising signs, and they will aim to be competitive in this final T20I.
Live Streaming and Broadcast Information
- TV Channels: Sky Cricket, Sony Sports
- Live Streaming: SkyGo, NowTV, Sony Liv
Toss Prediction
Historically, only one of the last five completed T20Is at The Oval has been won by the team fielding first. Thus, we predict that the captains will opt to bat first in this match.
Pitch Report
Pace bowlers are expected to thrive more than spinners on this pitch, especially with favorable overhead conditions. A good pace in the pitch should allow for high scores, with the team batting first likely targeting 200 runs.
Weather Report
Dry weather is forecasted for most of the week in South London, though rain is expected in the early afternoon on Thursday. By the evening, temperatures should reach up to 16 degrees Celsius, making a full match likely.
Team News & Predicted Playing XIs
England Team News & Playing 11
- Team News: Jos Buttler is likely to miss the match, with Moeen Ali expected to captain. Players like Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, and Mark Wood could feature in the lineup.
- Key Players:
- Phil Salt: Expected to keep wickets in Buttler’s absence.
- Will Jacks: Playing at his home ground, known for his aggressive batting.
- Sam Curran: Likely to make his series debut.
- Jofra Archer: Set to play after a planned two-match participation.
- Predicted Playing 11: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali (c), Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Tom Hartley, Sam Curran, Mark Wood.
Pakistan Team News & Playing 11
- Team News: Usman Khan and Abrar Ahmed are expected to play after being slated to appear in the washed-out third game.
- Key Players:
- Babar Azam: Consistent performer with the bat.
- Mohammad Rizwan: Expected to play solely as an opener.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi: Leading the pace attack.
- Imad Wasim: Effective with both bat and ball.
- Predicted Playing 11: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (c), Azam Khan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Usman Khan, Imad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed.
Head-to-Head
England has been dominant in the T20 format against Pakistan, leading the head-to-head tally by 20-9, and remaining unbeaten in the last five encounters.
Betting Tips and Odds
- Top Team Batsmen:
- England: Phil Salt, Jonny Bairstow, Will Jacks.
- Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman.
- Top Team Bowlers:
- England: Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Sam Curran.
- Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Imad Wasim.
Match Prediction
Despite the weather disruptions, the final T20I promises to be a thrilling contest with both teams looking to gain momentum ahead of the World Cup. We predict a high-scoring game with England emerging victorious due to their home advantage and overall squad strength.
Prediction: England to beat Pakistan in the 4th T20.
