England v Pakistan predictions & cricket betting tips: Tourists can strike early

Best bets, analysis and predictions for England v Pakistan in the third Twenty20 international at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

When to watch

Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 6.30pm Tuesday

Best bets

England to have first-wicket partnership of under 28.5 runs
3pts 5-6 Hills

Eoin Morgan top England runscorer
1pt 11-2 bet365, Paddy Power

Match preview

Runs have flowed freely in the first two Twenty20 internationals between England and Pakistan and another high-scoring contest is expected in the series decider at Old Trafford.

The first four innings of the series have included three totals of 200 or more and Liam Livingstone smashed England's fastest T20 century in a losing cause in last week's opener at Trent Bridge.

The hosts bounced back with a stylish 45-run win at Headingley on Sunday, where spinners Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Matt Parkinson finally landed a blow for the bowling fraternity.

And England, 4-1 second-favourites for the autumn T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman, are expected to seal a 2-1 series victory on a sunny evening in Manchester.

This summer's ODI and T20 fixtures have showcased England's clear-minded approach to white-ball cricket. A hugely depleted side beat Pakistan 3-0 in the one-dayers and whatever the 11 selected for the final T20 game, an aggressive, skillful brand of cricket is guaranteed.

England's 20-over batting unit is relentless and selfless, as reflected in the fact that they have been bowled out in both games in this series, for scores of 201 and 200.

There is no room in this side for anyone playing for their average and their batting depth means they can go hard from the very first ball.

That inevitably means risk against a bowling attack as talented as Pakistan's and going under England's first-wicket runs line of 28.5 is advised. It has fallen at 12 and 11 in the first two games.

Jason Roy went dot, six, four and out off Imad Wasim's first four legitimate deliveries on Sunday and Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Dawid Malan, brilliantly caught and bowled, in the second over at Trent Bridge.

Eoin Morgan sat out Sunday's win as part of England's rotation policy but the skipper could do with some time in the middle and he looks a big price to light up Old Trafford again.

This was the scene of his brutal 148 off 71 balls against Afghanistan in the 2019 World Cup, an innings studded with 17 sixes. He was also man of the match in Manchester in a T20 against Pakistan last summer when he smashed 66 from 33 deliveries to help England chase a target of 196.

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