England and Pakistan are all set to face off for one last time in the T20I series today (May 30) at Kennington Oval in London. This series has been marred by rain, with the first and third T20Is being washed out. Thus, only a single match has been completed so far, in which England emerged victorious. With the series hanging in the balance, today’s match holds significant importance, especially since there won’t be any further warm-up games for either team ahead of the T20 World Cup starting on June 1.
Hosts England lead the series 1-0 following their 23-run win in the second T20I. Pakistan, on the other hand, is determined to level the series today. Both teams are earnestly hoping for clear skies as this match serves as their final preparation before heading into their respective group matches in the T20 World Cup. Adding to the anticipation, both teams are scheduled to fly out to the Caribbean and the USA for the mega event on Friday (May 31).
Complicating matters for England, it remains uncertain if Jos Buttler will be available for today’s match. Buttler missed the third T20I due to paternity leave, but he is expected to join the team for the journey to the World Cup.
### Kennington Oval, London Pitch Report
The Kennington Oval, known for its quality pitch, typically offers assistance to both batsmen and bowlers. Initially, the new ball bowlers might extract some movement from the surface before it settles into a more batsman-friendly nature.
. With 18 T20I matches hosted at this venue, statistics reveal that teams batting first have emerged victorious 10 times while teams batting second have won 7 times. Given the persistent rain across the UK, the team winning the toss might prefer to bowl first. A competitive score at this venue is believed to be around 170-180 runs.
### Kennington Oval T20I Statistics
– **Matches Played:** 18
– **Matches Won Batting First:** 10
– **Matches Won Batting Second:** 7
– **Average First Innings Score:** 153
– **Highest Total:** 211/5 by South Africa vs Scotland
– **Lowest Total:** 81/10 by Scotland vs South Africa
– **Highest Score Chased:** 173/5 by England vs West Indies
– **Lowest Score Defended:** 113/5 by West Indies vs England
These statistics illustrate the dual nature of the pitch, offering both opportunities and challenges to the teams involved.
### The Squads
With the stakes high, both teams are fielding impressive squads for this final T20I:
**Pakistan:**
– Mohammad Rizwan
– Saim Ayub
– Babar Azam (c)
– Fakhar Zaman
– Shadab Khan
– Azam Khan (w)
– Iftikhar Ahmed
– Imad Wasim
– Shaheen Afridi
– Mohammad Amir
– Haris Rauf
– Agha Salman
– Hasan Ali
– Abrar Ahmed
– Naseem Shah
– Abbas Afridi
– Irfan Khan
– Usman Khan
**England:**
– Philip Salt (w)
– Jonny Bairstow
– Will Jacks
– Harry Brook
– Moeen Ali (c)
– Liam Livingstone
– Chris Jordan
– Jofra Archer
– Adil Rashid
– Reece Topley
– Mark Wood
– Ben Duckett
– Sam Curran
– Tom Hartley
Both teams have their star players ready to take the field, with the possible absence of Jos Buttler being a significant concern for England.
### Strategic Outlook
The final encounter promises thrilling cricket as both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. England will rely on their aggressive batting and a balanced bowling attack led by the likes of Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid. On the other hand, Pakistan will be banking on their pace attack spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and the consistency of their batting lineup.
With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, today’s match will be crucial not only for claiming the series but also for fine-tuning strategies and gaining momentum. The historical stats of Kennington Oval suggest that adaptability will be key, making the toss and subsequent decisions extremely pivotal.
As fans eagerly await clear skies and an uninterrupted match, both England and Pakistan will be focused on delivering their best performance. The outcome of this final T20I could set the tone for these teams as they head into the global arena, making today’s clash a must-watch spectacle.
