England are probably one of those sides that can come roaring back at any given stage in the present scenario in limited-overs cricket and they did something similar during the ongoing bilateral tie against Pakistan.
The hosts lost the first match but made a fine return in the second to level the three-match T20I series and take it into the decider.
Another major aspect of England cricket is the bold attitude and fearless way of playing the game not just on the field but off it too. The home side rested regular captain Eoin Morgan for the second clash against Pakistan in Leeds.
England haven’t really faced much of a problem with their batting barring the opening. While they have lost early wickets in both the clashes, the middle-order especially Livingstone has been one batsman who has held the things from one end.
He in fact notched up a ton in the first match which eventually went in vain as England failed to go over the line while chasing 233 but still managed to put 201 before getting bundled out in the last over.
The hosts have crossed the 200-run mark in both the matches and this is certainly a good sign as they go into the deciding match.
One issue that England were facing was leaking runs but that was resolved in the last match as well. So for now, the bowlers are back in the groove, the middle-order is among runs and they only need a steady start to the innings.
On the other hand, Pakistan who generally bank on their bowling attack to win games are struggling at the moment. The bowlers have been hammered in the absence of their enforcer Hasan Ali for runs all around the park in both matches. Apart from this, the persisting problem of Babar Azam’s lack of scoring runs while chasing is another major concern.
The right-handed batsman hasn’t been impressive whenever he is up for a chase and this is what happened in the second encounter. His scoring rate dips which eventually creates pressure on the other batsmen. The skipper needs to take up the responsibility if Pakistan have to win this series else they might suffer another setback.
Match Details
Match: England vs Pakistan, Third T20I
Date and Time: 20th July 2021, 11:00 pm IST
Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Pitch Report
The track at old Trafford might give some assistance to the batsmen. The pitch can help the batsmen score runs at a brisk pace and with the kind of batting line ups that the sides comprise, a high-voltage drama can be expected. So, if you win the toss, elect to bat and post a big total.
Team News
England: England captain Eoin Morgan was rested in the second match and is likely to return back for the decider. The team is overall looking in good touch and would look to replicate the second match’s performance.
But there is still a void that needs to be filled and that is getting a steady start. Jason Roy who got off to a blistering start in the first game, went out cheaply in the next one. With the T20 World lined up in the next couple of months, Roy and Malan might be battling it out for one spot in the final squad. With that in mind, one of the positions seems to be sorted for the returning Jos Buttler who led the side in the second match notching up a fifty.
Pakistan: Pakistan are in a spot of bother at the moment as their most dangerous weapon, fast bowling is not looking in good shape. Except for Shaheen Afridi, the bowlers have been hit for plenty and the absence of Hasan Ali has also affected them thoroughly.
Another issue is Babar Azam’s striking rate while Pakistan are chasing a target and Mohammad Hafeez’s failure with the bat. The right-hander did show his class in the first match but looked off colour in the second. There are chances that Pakistan might go for some changes in the XI for the final game. In all, Pakistan are left with a lot of work before they take the field in the last T20I.
Probable XI
England: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (wk), Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, David Willey, Matthew Parkinson
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Sohaib Maqsood, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
Fantasy XI
Mohammad Rizwan, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Babar Azam (VC), Mohammad Hafeez, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali (C), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Chris Jordan