Pakistan vs England fourth T20 predictions: Batting additions only boost tourists
It is only three weeks until the start of the T20 World Cup in Australia, and Pakistan and England are serving up a thrilling appetiser for the serious business in their seven-game series.
This is the first time England have toured Pakistan in 17 years but the three encounters so far have been stirring and more thrills and spills should be guaranteed in Sunday's fourth meeting in Karachi.
England bounce back in style
Moeen Ali's tourists were taken to task in the second game of the series as a dominant batting display saw Pakistan home in style.
Openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan put on an unbeaten 203 to see them home by 10 wickets, but Ali, standing in for regular skipper Jos Buttler, will have been delighted with the way his team responded in Friday's third match-up.
Ben Duckett and Harry Brook scored maiden T20 half-centuries for England and returning speedster Mark Wood took three key wickets at the start of the Pakistan innings, which meant any hopes of a successful chase were quickly extinguished.
Motivation should still be there to push on
Motivation should still be there to push on Brook was particularly impressive with 81 off 35 balls and the Yorkshire batsman will be looking to establish himself as the natural pick for number five ahead of the forthcoming challenge Down Under.
Pakistan pace bowler Shahnawaz Dahani had a difficult evening as he went for 62 off four overs and there was no respite for the spin attack as Duckett played them out of the game as well.
Both reacted to the challenge of places being available in the team for the World Cup and it would be no surprise if others rose to the occasion on Sunday.
One such player is Alex Hales, who was rested after hitting 53 in the first game and could offer even more firepower if restored.
Pakistan's openers could still be key
Wood made early breakthroughs on Friday but it is debatable whether he will lead the attack again so quickly after his first match for seven months and that could be good news for the home side.
Pakistan have lost four of their last five games in this format and it seems likely that if they are to bounce back from Friday's 63-run defeat then they will need the top of their order to step up again.
While Babar thrilled the crowds with a century in their successful chase on Thursday, do not disregard Rizwan from the top-runscorer equation.
He hit 88 in that unbeaten partnership and, although he was subsequently dismissed for eight in the latest clash, he had three successive half-centuries in the shortest format before that.
Prediction
Pakistan bounced back from their defeat in the first match in grand style and could do so again but the balance could just tip in England's favour this time.
Their already fine batting line-up could be further enhanced by the re-introduction of Hales and could react positively to the gauntlet that was laid down by Duckett and Brook on Friday.
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