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Cricket tips

Pakistan v England T20 predictions & free cricket betting tips

England opener Phil Salt can seize chance in Karachi

England opener Alex Hales has a superb T20 record in Australia
England opener Alex Hales has a superb T20 record in AustraliaCredit: Asif Hassan

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for Pakistan v England in Thursday's second Twenty20 international in Karachi.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 3.30pm Thursday

Best bets

Phil Salt to score over 18.5 runs
3pts 5-6 Betfair, Paddy Power

Haris Rauf top Pakistan wicket-taker
1pt 18-5 Betfred

Second T20 preview

England enjoyed a successful return to Pakistan, winning their first international fixture in the country for 17 years on Tuesday, but that six-wicket T20 victory in Karachi was just the first step on a long road for the tourists.

Tuesday's game marked the start of an epic seven-match Twenty20 series as the sides hone their 20-over skills in preparation for next month's T20 World Cup in Australia.

There was an unfamiliar look to the England batting line-up with Jonny Bairstow injured, Jason Roy dropped, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes rested, and long-time captain Eoin Morgan having retired.

However, Alex Hales made a triumphant return to the international scene after a three-year absence, scoring a smooth half-century, and exciting Yorkshire youngster Harry Brook sealed the run-chase with a stylish unbeaten 42 off just 25 balls.

Hales, Brook and several other members of the tour party have benefited from spells in the Pakistan Super League and England coped well with conditions in Karachi.

Their bowlers pegged back Pakistan after a stand of 85 between prolific openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam with debutant Luke Wood (3-24) and masterful leg-spinner Adil Rashid (2-27) exposing the home side's brittle middle-order.

White-ball captain Buttler is on the tour but still recovering from a calf injury so Moeen Ali will lead 11-10 shots England again in the second T20.

Buttler's absence should give Phil Salt another opportunity to keep wicket and open the batting and he can exceed a modest runs line of 18.5 with Betfair and Paddy Power.

Salt, who has played for Lahore Qalanders and Islamabad United in the PSL, made ten in the first T20, when he was well caught just inside the boundary rope at deep square-leg, but he has shown this year that he is capable of punishing bowlers at international level.

He cracked 57 off 24 balls on his T20 debut against the West Indies in January and hit ten fours in an innings of 60 against Pakistan at Lord's in July in only his second ODI.

A maiden international century soon followed in the ODI series in the Netherlands and Salt can get England off to a flying start against a Pakistan attack missing the injured Shaheen Shah Afridi, their biggest new-ball threat.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf caused problems for England's batsmen on Tuesday, dismissing top runscorer Hales and conceding only 23 runs in four overs thanks to some clever changes of pace and well-directed short balls.

He finished this month's Asia Cup campaign by taking 3-29, 2-19 and 2-26 in his last three games and is worth backing to be the top home wicket-taker in the second T20.


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