England vs Pakistan – Series decider shrouded in controversy

The Pakistan cricket team arrived at Trent Bridge on July 29th, in the midst of summer, hoping to challenge an English cricket team that were in very fine nick.

But a spate of shocking fielding performances and batting collapses, coupled with the fallout from the betting scandal, has seen Pakistan wilt upon taking the field.

But last night, as we drift into a melancholy autumn, Pakistan finally showed some spirit at Lords and levelled the one day international series at 2-2.

Wednesday sees the series decider in Hampshire’s Rose Bowl stadium at 2.30pm, and after Ijaz Butt’s comments, it’s turned from a decider into a grudge match, and both teams will be going all out to win.

Match Odds

After proving their one day credentials in the previous two games, the 6/4 offered for Pakistan to win the fifth ODI could be considered generous.

England are 1/2 in the England vs Pakistan betting market and that seems a little short, considering their batting collapses in the past two matches.

Butt’s comments will only spur England on as they look to recover after letting a 2-0 lead slip, but Jonathan Trott’s altercation with Wahab Riaz before the fourth ODI adds a little spice to the match.

Trott and Riaz were at each other’s throats, literally, in the nets before Monday’s game and Trott solemnly left the wicket having being bowled by Shahid Afridi for just four runs.

Trott was England’s finest batter in the Test series and he will work fervently to lead England to a win after the spat, and he is 7/2 to be top England runscorer in the fifth ODI.

Kamran Akmal has finally found some form and is 7/2 to be Pakistan’s leading runscorer in the firth ODI. See the full England vs Pakistan cricket betting market here.