Pakistan v England T20 World Cup final tips & top odds – 13/11/22

Tournament outsiders Pakistan face an ominous-looking England side in the T20 World Cup final at the MCG this Sunday night.

This has been a strange and confusing tournament. Bad weather has plagued much of the event, and we have seen some baffling upsets. The Netherlands — hardly a renowned cricketing powerhouse — toppled South Africa, who beat tournament favourites India. Ireland beat the West Indies and finalists England. But true sporting fans love upsets; they keep the game interesting.

Pakistan enter the final after a smooth demolition of New Zealand in their semi-final matchup. The Kiwis batted first and were restricted to a modest 4/152, which was about 20 runs short of what was needed. Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, grabbing two wickets while conceding only 24 runs from his four overs, and Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with a timely wicket from his two overs. Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell batted well late, but the total failed to put the chasing side under sufficient pressure.

In contrast, the Pakistanis started brightly with the bat, and openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam brought up half-centuries in quick time. The batting side kept rolling during the middle stages, and the final few overs were anti-climactic as the total was surpassed without hiccup. The victors finished at 3/153 with five balls to spare.

England were well fancied before the World Cup to make a solid run, but they were hot and cold during the group stages. They got the job done when it counted and were slight underdogs against India in their semi-final. The Poms belied the betting markets with a clinical performance and are worthy favourites for this game.

The Indians looked hesitant in the semi, batting first but without the fluidity expected. They posted a solid 6/168 after some much-needed late slogging from Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli. Englishmen Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan were both outstanding with the ball in hand, taking wickets and maintaining pressure.

England’s innings was a masterclass in controlled T20 batting, with Jos Buttler and Alex Hales waltzing past the Indian total in the 16th over. A score of 0/170 is as close to T20 batting perfection as you will. The Indian bowlers were steered around the ground and never threatened to break through. If these two can replicate that effort in the final, it might be one-way traffic.

On the strength of the English performance against India, it is almost impossible to tip against them. They notably beat Pakistan in a seven-game series in Pakistan during the lead up to the World Cup, so will know their game inside out. The English look calm and assured in this format of the game. Credit must go to Pakistan for reaching the final. They have benefitted from a lack of pressure and slipped under the radar for most of the tournament.

Hopefully, the notoriously changeable Melbourne weather cooperates, the game is not shortened or delayed, and we see a fine cricketing spectacle. T20 is a game designed to produce upsets, given that an over or two can swing the outcome, but we must tip the English here.

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