England will face Pakistan in their final league match of the ICC Cricket World Cup to be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 11th November 2023. Pakistan faces an impossible target as they need to win by 287 runs if they bat first or chase down the target in 16 deliveries.
England would look to win the match and qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy to be played in Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan will look to end the tournament on a high note as they registered a brilliant win over New Zealand chasing down 402.
Both teams have top-quality players who can change the course of the game with their abilities and help their country register victory.
Here we look at the 5 Players To Watch Out For Between Pakistan and England
- Dawid Malan
The stylish left-handed batter Dawid Malan looked in great touch during the previous match against Netherlands. He showed intent against the pace bowlers keeping momentum in the first 10 overs and not allowing them to settle.
He was run out for well-made 87 laying a strong foundation to help England post a mammoth total. Malan has played 3 ODI matches against Pakistan and scored 68 runs including 2 ducks.
Dawid Malan will look to provide a solid start in the first 10 overs along with Jonny Bairstow that will lead England to showcase their explosive nature and help them to register victory in the last group game.
- Fakhar Zaman
Fakhar Zaman showed great intent right from the word go against New Zealand. Chasing down 402 runs to win, Zaman kept the momentum going for Pakistan and smashed the Kiwis bowlers all over M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Zaman took the attack and helped Pakistan register 21 runs via the DLS method. For his match-winning knock of 126, he was named the player of the match award. He has a great record against England in the ODI format with 356 runs from 10 matches (10 innings) including 1 century and 2 half-centuries.
The explosive batter would look to prove his worth with another match-winning knock that would create pressure on England’s bowling and help Pakistan to meet the required target.
- Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes finally returned to form with his first century in World Cup history against Netherlands. He looked cautious as wickets from the other end. After completing his fifty, he showed his class smashing the Netherlands bowlers all over the park and made sure that England posted 339 for 9.
Stokes has performed well for England against Pakistan in the ODI format with 431 runs from 15 matches (11 innings) including the best score of 75 including 3 half-centuries. He would be looking to keep the pressure on Pakistan bowling in the middle order and help England qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 to be played in Pakistan.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi has not been in excellent form of late. He was taken for runs in the previous match against New Zealand on a placid batting pitch that put Pakistan bowlers under pressure.
Afridi would be looking to pick early wickets in the first 10 overs and rattle the England batting which would help Pakistan provide some chances. He has not had a great record in the ODI format against the England team with 7 wickets from 7 matches at an economy of 7.21 runs including best figures of 4 for 82.
This will be the best chance for Pakistan to go for the kill and try to help them to qualify for the semi-finals.
- Chris Woakes
Chris Woakes was at his lethal best in the previous match against the Netherlands. He swung the ball and troubled the Netherlands openers creating pressure in the first 10 overs.
He also looked impressive with a well-complied half-century that helped England recover from a tough situation. Woakes has a poor record against Pakistan in the ODI format during bowling with only 5 wickets from 13 matches at an economy of 5.64 runs per over and best figures of 5 for 54.
Woakes would be looking to provide all-round abilities that will help England play attacking cricket and register victory over Pakistan.
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