Twenty20 / Andrew Hughes / 05 September 2010 /

Pakistan did their best to put a terrible week behind them on Sunday, but still came off second best. Can they level the two match series? Andrew Hughes previews Tuesday's second Twenty20 International between England and Pakistan.

Venue and Conditions

The overall Twenty20 average score for teams batting first at Sophia Gardens is 151 but domestically this summer it has been 138 and it is not hard to see why. Sunday's pitch was slow, offered prodigious turn for the spinners and even when the batsmen managed to time the ball, they had no assistance from the slow outfield. This game will start a couple of hours later than Sunday's, so it is possible that dew will be a factor but of more concern is the weather forecast with heavy showers predicted. We could well be looking at a reduced overs game.

Team News

England are unlikely to want to change things and in any case have little room for manoeuvre to do so. Ajmal Shahzad and James Anderson are the two options in the squad, should any of the three seamers who played on Sunday develop an injury.

Pakistan are likely to make an adjustment or two, in particular, the experiment of promoting Fawad Alam will surely be abandoned and both Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi moved up the order. They may also consider bringing in Mohammad Hafeez, who has an excellent Twenty20 average and if Shoaib Akhtar can't cope with two games in three days, there could be a chance for gigantic left-arm seamer Mohammad Irfan, provided he has joined up with the squad in time.

Match Odds

Pakistan suffered on Sunday because their batting line-up was out of kilter and they were left with too much to do in the field, though they did at least put in a convincing impression of being together as a team and threw themselves around in the field with more energy than usual. England on the other hand, were thoroughly professional, restricting the tourists to a below par total and keeping their heads when chasing to come home comfortably.

That said, the home side were not flawless; they dropped three catches and, more importantly, their revamped top order looks a little fragile. Whilst you'd have to say that England are the better side, the market is underestimating the tourists in their favourite format. Pakistan are a weakened team, in manpower and in morale, but they still have a dash of flair, a long batting line-up and a varied and dangerous bowling attack. More importantly, Afridi seems to have got them motivated. At odds likely to be around the [2.8] mark, they make some appeal.

Top Batsman

It's all about Afridi and Umar Akmal for Pakistan, but we can't be sure where Afridi will bat in the order and you'd have to think that Umar will get to come in one place higher this time. He should be available at around [5.6] and opener Shahzaib Hasan might also be worth a look at [5.5] as he appeared to be in decent nick on Sunday.

For England, neither Steve Davies nor Craig Kieswetter looked convincing and if you're expecting another mini-collapse, you'd probably be looking at the reliable Paul Collingwood or Eoin Morgan to steady the ship. But I thought Ravi Bopara looked in good touch on Sunday before getting a little too ambitious against Shoaib Akhtar and he would be worth siding with at [5.0] or better.

Featured Market

There were no sixes hit during Sunday's game and batting is unlikely to be any easier on Tuesday. Back '9 and Under' in the Total Sixes market at [1.75] or better.

Andrew Hughes says: Back Pakistan to win at [2.8] or better

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: