England are looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Super 8s after a convincing victory over joint-hosts Sri Lanka last Sunday.
Harry Brook’s men take on Pakistan tomorrow afternoon in Kandy, which should prove to be a very tricky assignment.
England and Pakistan met in the 2022 T20 World Cup final, which the Three Lions won thanks to a dogged performance from Ben Stokes (who else?) with the bat.
But the teams look a lot different now, and the added element of subcontinent conditions only makes this intriguing clash harder to call.
Check out our latest cricket betting match preview below, featuring tips and NetBet’s wide range of T20 World Cup odds.
Where can I watch England vs Pakistan in the UK?
England vs Pakistan will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket, with the match scheduled to start at 1:30pm UK time.
England vs Pakistan Preview
England beat Sri Lanka by 51 runs after only posting 146/9 in the first innings. Will Jacks, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid wreaked havoc with the ball to help give the Three Lions’ net run rate a huge boost.
Phil Salt top scored with 62 runs from 40 balls, though another uninspiring display from veteran Jos Buttler is a slight cause for concern.
Sadly for Pakistan, their opening Super 8 fixture against New Zealand was abandoned following inclement weather conditions in Colombo.
But Salman Ali Agha’s men should be feeling confident after a 102-run win over Namibia in their final group match, which followed the 61-run defeat to fierce rivals India.
Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan scored 100* (58) against Namibia, while unique spinner Usman Tariq was devastating with the ball, taking 4/16.
Pakistan’s spin bowlers should enjoy the conditions in Kandy, though England are very acclimatised to the Pallekele stadium.
Brook’s side played three T20Is against Sri Lanka at the ground before the tournament, winning all three of them.
So, can Pakistan end England’s winning run in Kandy? The teams last met in the T20 format back in the summer of 2024, a four-match series won 2-0 by the Three Lions on home soil.
England vs Pakistan Odds
*All odds are subject to change
England are clear favourites for the win here at a price of 1.59. A victory for Pakistan is at odds of 2.15.
England vs Pakistan Betting Tips
England top bowler – Jofra Archer @ 4.00
While conditions in Kandy may favour spinners, seam bowlers can also look dangerous – as Archer did against Sri Lanka. Pace and accuracy with the new ball is always tough to deal with, and if Archer picks up an early wicket – perhaps dismissing the in-form Farhan – he can rip through Pakistan’s middle order.
England top batter – Harry Brook @ 6.00
Captain Brook is yet to really fire at this tournament, but a match against his favourite opposition could change all of that. The high-quality batter averages 55.20 at a strike rate of 149.18 vs Pakistan in T20Is, top scoring with 81*.
Pakistan top bowler – Usman Tariq @ 4.00
Tariq’s unique action, which sees him delay mid stride before delivering the ball, should prove very difficult to handle for England’s batters. Tariq also has plenty of variations with which to toy with opposing players, so this is perhaps the most solid tip of the lot. In his short seven-match T20I career thus far, he has taken 16 wickets at an average of 7.93, with an economy rate of just 5.72.
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information. When the fun stops, stop.
