14th June - 1st Semi-final - England v Pakistan

[Howe_zat]

Swalec stadium, Cardiff (10:30 local | 09:30 GMT)

 

[smash84]

For some reason this match reminds me of the 444 that England scored against a very similar Pak lineup. Now that was a mauling to remember

 

[Howe_zat]

Watching highlights of that series now. The 444 game was actually the odd one out, it was mostly Pakistan getting bowled out for 250-270 and England chasing comfortably

 

[Black_Warrior]

^ Yeah pretty much. And Pak didn't bowl that badly in that series other than that match..it was more the batting being country miles behind England in terms of scoring rate.

Pakistan will hope to follow the 5th match template but for that, Sarfraz will have to bat up the order. Neither Hafeez or Babar can play that anchor role.

 

[YorksLanka]

gonna be a battle of the bowlers here me thinks..England are clear favourites but the Pakistani bowlers will probably be the toughest test of the England batting line up they have faced in this tournament so far..

 

[Top_Cat]

Sarfraz is gonna yell Pakistan all the way to victory.

 

[vogue]

Really pleased to be able to catch this game tomorrow, as Thursday I will be out . There doesn't seem as much traffic on this thread as for the second semi either....

 

[91Jmay]

gonna be a battle of the bowlers here me thinks..England are clear favourites but the Pakistani bowlers will probably be the toughest test of the England batting line up they have faced in this tournament so far..

Starc/Haze are both better than Pakistani bowlers but I the depth of the Aussie attack is weaker compared to Pakistan's. If we get through the opening pairing I think we will be very well placed.

 

[Burner]

Who are we kidding, Pakistan are going to get hammered. Their only chance is to bat first and put up 300 and put the pressure on England imo.

 

[harsh.ag]

Best chance for them is to skittle England out for 200 and chase it imo.

 

[Daemon]

When did they last score 300? If the bowlers don't roll England for 250 max they're not winning ****.

 

[Scaly piscine]

As long as England don't give them a sniff with mistakes, they should wipe the floor with Pakistan.

 

[Burner]

If they bowl first, even if they get England all out for 200-300, they are going to do everything in their power to **** it up and this time there won't be Thisara Perera to stop them from losing.

 

[harsh.ag]

If they bowl first, even if they get England all out for 200-300, they are going to do everything in their power to **** it up and this time there won't be Thisara Perera to stop them from losing.

Look let's not pretend that England are the best fielding side or something.

 

[CricAddict]

So will Roy play or bairstow replace him? If Bairstow replaces him, I think buttler should open.

 

[Jarquis]

Apparently Roy didn't bat at all in practice.

 

[harsh.ag]

Apparently Roy didn't bat at all in practice.

So he's just doing at practice what he does in matches now?

 

[Daemon]

So will Roy play or bairstow replace him? If Bairstow replaces him, I think buttler should open.

Just do a like for like imo. Butler provides insane value in the last 20

 

[Burner]

Look let's not pretend that England are the best fielding side or something.

There's a world of difference between the best fielding side and what SL was yesterday. England just has to not be the latter.

 

[91Jmay]

Look let's not pretend that England are the best fielding side or something.

We've been fine in the CT trophy, taken some great catches think Ali dropped one and not misfielded particularly often. We are a decent fielding side, below the best but it's laughable to compare them to Sri Lanka yesterday.

Bairstow to open I think, he's been smashing it for Yorkshire there and Buttler down the order is a genius.