Cricket Betting: Live on Skysports 1: Fri 12.30: England meet Pakistan for the 3rd ODI of 5 and are heavy 2/5 favs (Coral) to win again. Pakistan, however, should not be under-estimated this time out.
England have a 2-0 lead heading into Friday’s 3rd ODI at The Oval with Pakistan and are just 2/5 at Coral to make it 3 wins from 3, which would seal the 5 game series (which they are a 1/100 shot to win with Stan James). Pakistan come in as a 5/2 shot with Victor Chandler to register their first win of the series.
Some credit has to go to Pakistan for setting a target of 295 last time out, a very competitive total that England managed to chase down in the last over. Pakistan’s batting has not been a major issue, the side still contains exciting batsmen capable of fireworks in the short version of the game but the attack remains a problem. Saeed Ajmal remains the best bowler of the Pakistan side, top wicket taker for the last 2 ODI’s (for the tourists) and he is 11/4 to repeat that for the 3rd match in a row with Paddy Power.
In the England side, Strauss dazzled last time out after a steady 41 in the 1st ODI, while Davies somewhat struggled after an 87 in the 1st. Ravi Bopara needs to find some steady form but failed again in the 2nd ODI, leaving Jon Trott as the only England player to score over 50 in both games, accumulating 122 in 2 matches. He is a good shout to top knock for England, 7/2 with Ladbrokes.
The Oval has not been ideal for centuries over the years, 3 years since Shah hit 107 and over 5 years since Tresco hit 100 against Bangladesh. William Hill’s 8/11 that there will NOT be a century seems like a fair bet.
Interestingly, England have won just once at The Oval in the last 7 ODI’s at the ground. They are expected to win with ease again but the Pakistani’s will make it anything but easy for them. England suffer classically from lethargy and complacency in positions of dominance so expect another tight contest and Sportingbet are doing a great handicap that gives Pakistan either +3.5 wickets or +30.5 runs at a price of 5/6 to win and is the bet to take.
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