Pakistan v England fifth T20 predictions and cricket betting tips

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for for the fifth T20 international between Pakistan and England on Wednesday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 3.30pm Wednesday

Best bet

Mark Wood top England wicket-taker
1pt 4-1 Betfred

Match preview

England lost a dramatic fourth Twenty20 international against Pakistan by three runs on Sunday, leaving the series level at 2-2 going into the final three games, the first of which takes place in Lahore.

England looked to have salvaged their chase of 167 as Liam Dawson's knock of 34 from 17 balls took them from 130-7 to within five runs short of the target.

However, their last three wickets fell for just one run and a fine performance from the Pakistan bowlers – particularly Haris Rauf, who took 3-32 – saw them take the victory.

The first three T20s had been fairly one-sided but Sunday's enthralling back-and-forth clash has set up an intriguing end to the seven-game contest.

As with so much white-ball cricket, the toss will be crucial in this match as teams batting second have won five of the last six T20 internationals in Lahoire.

Breaking Pakistan's prolific opening partnership of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam will be integral to England's chances of success as one of those two has been the hosts' top runscorer in all but one of the first four matches. Their average opening partnership for the series stands at over 100 and Rizwan has reached fifty in six of his last nine T20 internationals.

At times England have lacked firepower in their pace attack and in Sunday's defeat they missed Mark Wood, who was rested after taking 3-24 in his first game back from a long injury layoff.

The paceman reached 97mph in that clash and is expected to play at least two of the games in Lahore as he builds up his fitness ahead of next month's T20 World Cup.

Wood is likely to replace Olly Stone, who managed figures of 0-36 on his T20 international debut last time out, and the returning quick has the pace to cause problems for Pakistan.

England's T20 bowling attack has often struggled to match the ultra-aggressive approach of their batsmen but with Wood back in the fold they can do so and he is fancied to be the tourists' top wicket-taker.

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