England vs Pakistan 2nd T20I Preview: With another run-fest in the offing, predict the result at your own peril

As Pakistan look to build on their lead, England have one eye on drawing level and another on their T20 World Cup preparations.

LIVE SCORES - England vs Pakistan 2nd T20I 

Just Pakistan things

Pakistan getting steamrolled against a second string England squad and then beating the first choice players comprehensively - is anybody surprised? At least, I am not.

This is exactly what you expect of Pakistan and this is what we predicted in the preview for the 1st T20I.

Almost everything that should have gone right for Pakistan went their way in the series opener, apart from losing the toss and even that was not such a bad thing as Pakistan often struggle in run chases.

Positives for England

That said, it was not such a bad game for England either as they got some answers to what they are looking for, with the upcoming T20 World Cup in mind.

Liam Livingstone reiterated his position as a fine middle order prospect. With the abrasive surfaces of UAE in mind, Morgan gave the ball a lot more to Matt Parkinson and Liam Livingstone than he would otherwise have.

It's great news for England, if you look from the other way around, that even on one of their worst days, they ended up with 201 runs on the board.

Pakistan batters take advantage of England's poor execution

Pakistan's openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam were sensational as they added 150 runs between them - Pakistan's second highest for any wicket in this format. Once the two were dismissed, everyone in the middle order chipped in with Sohaib Maqsood, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez sporting strike rates of 271, 325 and 240.

Accepted, England lacked in their T20 bowling skills and there were far too many full tosses and length balls for their liking but you must give credit to the Pakistan batsmen for cashing in. Don't forget the match was played in Trent Bridge which is notorious for being a graveyard for the bowlers.

How do you analyse a bowling scorecard in which only one bowler gave away runs at less than 10 RPO. No doubt, it was a failure of the England bowling unit, but with Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes missing, you cannot criticize England too much either.

Several of these players are coming off a 10 day quarantine and despite them being professionals, it does take a toll.

Livingstone special

Pakistan got the start they were after, reducing England to 48/3 within the first five overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up two of these three wickets, grabbing a sensational caught and bowled off Dawid Malan and then having Jonny Bairstow caught by Imad Wasim.

For England to still keep themselves in the match till the very last shows the steel that the side has deep within.

Liam Livingstone blasted both the fastest T20I half century and fastest T20I century for England in the same match, carting 103 off 43 deliveries at a strike rate of almost 240 as he struck 6 boundaries and 9 sixes. Livingstone was the most severe on Shadab Khan whom he took for 5 sixes.

Shadab had the last laugh if you can call it that. The spinner had Livingstone caught shortly after his century. While there were some breathtaking strokes played by Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and even David Willey towards the end, England would have liked a lot more support for Livingstone.

Hasnain to keep his spot

Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan and it is odd to call him that when he himself went at 9 RPO, but the three wickets he took counted for a lot more. Shadab Khan also took three wickets but gave away 52 runs.

Mohammad Hasnain, playing in place of the injured Hasan Ali, was brilliant as he conceded just 28 runs from his four overs, by far the most economical figures in the match. He will keep his place in the XI.

Strap in for another run fest.

Here's a look at the probable playing XIs:

England - Jos Buttler, Jason Roy/Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan (c), Lewis Gregory, Tom Curran, David Willey, Jake Ball/Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid/Matthew Parkinson

Pakistan - Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Sohaib Maqsood, Mohammad Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali/Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain

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