Pakistan To Secure Series Win Over England

England were humbled in the first Test of their series against Pakistan falling to a nine-wicket defeat at Lord’s. Joe Root and his side paid the price for an atrocious performance with the bat in the first innings, allowing the tourists to ease to the victory.

The Three Lions are under immense pressure to bounce back from their defeat, with Root and coach Trevor Bayliss under the spotlight due to the team’s poor form. England have now failed to win any of their last eight Test matches, including their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia.

Root made the curious decision to bat first on a green wicket at Lord’s. He paid the price as Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali ripped through home side’s batting line-up, skittling England out for 184. Pakistan displayed patience and quality technique with the bat to post 363 in reply, mastering conditions with ease.

The Three Lions’ second innings was heading the same way as the first as Mohammad Amir combined with Abbas to strike with regularity. Jos Buttler and Dominic Bess ensured that the Green Army would have at least have to bat again, although they knocked the runs off without difficulty.

England need a stronger effort in second match of the series to alleviate the pressure on Bayliss and Root.

Top England Batsman

There were few players that emerged from Lord’s with credit to their name. Alastair Cook along with Root, Bess and Buttler were the only players to pass fifty for England.

Almost every dismissal was due to an error from the batsman, playing a loose shot or losing concentration at the crease. It has been a problem that has plagued England for too long, handing deserved criticism at the players as well as batting coach Mark Ramprakash and Bayliss.

The Three Lions need one of the senior men to come to the fore at Headingley. Root has been underwhelming since inheriting the captaincy, failing to find the level that his contemporaries Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith have reached since becoming skipper of their own teams. On his home ground he has to rise to the occasion to help himself more than anyone else, easing criticism of his captaincy and his failure to convert fifties.

Root will be playing on his home ground, although he only averages 34.22 at the venue in his five matches. He only has one century at Headingley, but back him to change that fact at odds of 3.75Bet €100 to win €37511/4Bet £100 to win £375+275Bet $100 to win $3752.75Bet HK$100 to win HK$3752.75Bet Rp100 to win Rp375-0.3636Bet RM100 to win RM375  with BetVictor.

Top Pakistan Batsman

The tourists coped well with conditions at Lord’s, reducing the threat of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam and Shadab Khan all reached fifty at the home of cricket, spending meaningful time at the crease. Azam took a heavy blow from Ben Stokes, which has ruled him out of the second Test. Therefore there’s greater pressure on Ali and Shafiq at the top of the order to fill the void.

Shafiq had enjoyed a solid Test match career, averaging 39.30 in his 60 matches. He was able to rise to the occasion in the first innings after Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed cheaply.

Together with Ali, he was able to see off the threat of the new ball and allowed his side to build a total that was good enough to secure the victory. The 32-year-old has to deliver once again for the Green Army to ease the pressure on their inexperienced middle order. Back him to lead the way for his team at odds of 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500  with Betway.

Top England Bowler

The Three Lions were not at their best at Lord’s with the ball. They bowled too short, allowing the tourists to build their innings. Anderson bounced back, while Stokes had a solid game. However, Mark Wood and Broad have a point to prove in the second Test, while Bess will be aiming to make more of an impact than he did on debut.

Broad has come under fire for his inconsistency over the last year. The 31-year-old appeared to find his form in New Zealand, but he was ineffective in the first innings, taking only one wicket.

England cannot afford to be relying solely on Anderson with the ball, especially in the early overs. Wood too has not been good enough, although he was plagued by bad luck at Lord’s.

The Durham man has the raw tools needed to succeed at the highest level, although it has not shown in the stat sheet, claiming 30 wickets in his 12 matches at an average of 41.73. The 28-year-old needs a strong performance at Headingley to retain his place for the India series later in the summer. Back him to lead the wicket column at odds of 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500  with BetVictor.

Top Pakistan Bowler

Abbas adapted to English conditions brilliantly in his first action in the country. The 28-year-old arrived with a solid reputation, thriving in his early Test matches.  He put England to the sword, taking eight wickets in the match. Abbas’ performance in the first innings was flawless as he removed Mark Stoneman and Stokes before striking again to dismiss Bess and Broad.

He was not afraid to pitch the ball up and risk being driven down the ground. Abbas capitalised on England’s lack of discipline to great effect and he is more than capable of running through the batting line-up once again at Headingley. Seamers usually thrive in Yorkshire so Abbas will be placed well to build on his fine start in England.
Abbas has momentum and is in great rhythm. He should pick up where he left off at Lord’s therefore back him at odds of 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350  with BetVictor.

Result

England’s Test form has been atrocious since the end of 2017. The Three Lions relied on their home form to be their saving grace, but it appears even that looks beyond them now. Headingley has not been a kind venue to England, winning only two of their last nine matches at the ground.

Pakistan’s bowling was disciplined and capitalised on the home side’s indiscipline. Expect that to continue for the tourists so take them for the win at odds of 4.50Bet €100 to win €4507/2Bet £100 to win £450+350Bet $100 to win $4503.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$4503.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp450-0.2857Bet RM100 to win RM450  with BetVictor.

Tips Summary

Pakistan to Beat England Second Test
Friday June 1^st 2018 – Tuesday 5^th June 2018
Odds: 4.50Bet €100 to win €4507/2Bet £100 to win £450+350Bet $100 to win $4503.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$4503.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp450-0.2857Bet RM100 to win RM450

Joe Root To Be Top England Batsman
Friday June 1^st 2018 – Tuesday 5^th June 2018
Odds: 3.75Bet €100 to win €37511/4Bet £100 to win £375+275Bet $100 to win $3752.75Bet HK$100 to win HK$3752.75Bet Rp100 to win Rp375-0.3636Bet RM100 to win RM375

Asad Shafiq To Be Top Pakistan Batsman
Friday June 1^st 2018 – Tuesday 5^th June 2018
Odds: 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500

Mark Wood To Be Top England Bowler
Friday June 1^st 2018 – Tuesday 5^th June 2018
Odds: 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500

Mohammad Abbas To Be Top Pakistan Bowler
Friday June 1^st 2018 – Tuesday 5^th June 2018
Odds: 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350