Pakistan vs England prediction and Third Test cricket betting tips

Where to watch Pakistan vs England

Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 6am Thursday

Best bets

Shoaib Bashir top England first-innings bowler
1pt 16-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Joe Root top England first-innings runscorer
1pt 10-3 Betfair, Paddy Power

Pakistan vs England prediction

Pakistan claimed the spoils in the second of two Tests in Multan to tee up a winner-takes-all finale against England in Rawalpindi and it has made for a tight betting heat with the tourists even-money to triumph.

Winning the toss could be all important as the Rawalpindi surface is expected to provide a pretty decent track for the batters, so spin could again be king and Pakistan are likely to place all their chips in that department.

Rehan Ahmed has been drafted into the England team, so the tourists are clearly expecting a turning pitch.

Somerset spinner Jack Leach is England’s leading wicket-taker in the series, having claimed seven scalps in the opening Test before adding seven more in Pakistan’s leveller, and he will be Ben Stokes's go-to man in a bid to limit the damage.

However, fellow spinner Shoaib Bashir has also had a promising series, with five of his six wickets coming in that second Test defeat.

That suggests the 21-year-old may be growing to the task and gaining belief, making him an interesting candidate to be England’s top first-innings wicket-taker in conditions that are seemingly set to suit.

Joe Root is considered one of the best in the world at playing spin and, having become England's leading Test match run-scorer of all time in the opening Test, he could be set for another starring role.

Root made 262 in the opening innings of the first Test and, although restricted to scores of 34 and 18 in the second, he is clearly in excellent touch and it is rare that he is kept quiet for long.

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