An incredibly green England outfit have already sealed the series against a Pakistan team who find themselves trying to salvage some pride. The tourists have put themselves on the back foot for the rest of the tour with a brace of woeful performances and will need some magic to pull something out of this series.
England vs Pakistan
Third ODI
Tuesday 13 July 2021
Edgbaston, Birmingham | 14:00
To Win
England – 7/10
Draw – 25/1
Pakistan – 11/10
England
England will savour their substantial silver lining from this series, with a young group forced to the fore by COVID-19 protocols, only to completely outclass the opposition.
Lewis Gregory is among those making a case for further involvement with the England camp, already a fringe player, he has been central to the wins, bowling important overs and helping England reach a defendable total in the second ODI.
James Vince looks a better fit for England when he comes in at number four as demonstrated with his half-century in trying conditions.
SA-born Bryden Carse also chipped in with some valuable lower-order runs and he stopped Hasan Ali from pulling off any death over heroics.
England would like to wrap up a whitewash but the group will already see this as a massive success.
Pakistan
This series counts towards the Cricket World Cup Super League, so Pakistan can salvage something with a win in the final match but they will need a big turnaround in the batting department.
The top four have contributed almost nothing to the cause for Pakistan so far which is a surprise considering the form they carried into the series.
Pakistan need Babar Azam to lead from the front with the bat and at least one more member of that top four to bat with him for some time, to give them any chance.
Fast bowler Hasan Ali loves bowling in England, and Shaheen Afridi has looked dangerous, but their efforts to bowl out the hosts in the second ODI came to nought as the batsmen failed in pursuit of a modest total.
Verdict: England 7/10
Pakistan are in a hole and are unlikely to pull themselves out.
