England take on Pakistan in the first game of the Super Eight stage in the ICC World T20. The match will be played in Bridgetown in Barbados, on a track that seems to be hard, bouncy and attractive for any pace worth his salt.

Both sides have had a difficult time getting to the Super Eights, but all that will be history now that they are here. England (5/6 at Ladbrokes) will obviously feel the pinch from not having had enough bowling in two games, while Pakistan’s (1/1 at Blue Square) batting could be a cause for concern on a track that is very unlike the ones found in the sub-continent.

In their first game, Salman Butt (4/1 at Totesport) and Kamran Amal (7/2 at Blue Square, to top-score for their side) had got a move on and assisted the side in winning the game, but against Australia, the batting had totally fizzled out. While the English attack cannot be compared with the Australian one, the Pakistani top-order need to do much better than they have done in the tournament so far. Even against Bangladesh, the likes of Umar Akmal (5/1 at Bet365) and Mohammad Hafeez (6/1 at Boylesports) barely tickled the scorers, whereas Shahid Afridi (7/1 at Bet365 to top-score for Pakistan) had promoted himself up the order and did not get going.

Unfortunately for the Pakistanis, there are not too many in the batting order, who can be enlisted to take on the opposition on a furious track like this. And this is where the experience of Misbah-ul-Haq (7/1 at Bet365) may come handy, if he bats higher up the order.

England will be relieved to get there, and much of the credit behind their entry into the second round must go to Eoin Morgan (6/1 at Boylesports to continue being England's best), who cracked his fourth successive innings of substance of the tour (including the warm-ups). Kevin Pietersen’s (7/2 at Bet Fred to top-score for England) innings have been strange, and as have been his dismissals, whereas the openers in Craig Kieswetter (4/1 at Bet365) and Michael Lumb (7/2 at Bet365, both to top-score for England) have both had starts but have failed to convert them.

It will need a good performance from the English top-order to be able to get going, and stand up to the opposition for the English to win this one. over-reliance on one batsman can only benefit the side so much; it is time for the others to put their hands up as well. Captain Paul Collingwood (11/2 at Boylesports to be the best batsman) included.

Tips:
Favourites: England (5/6 at Ladbrokes)
Top England batsman: Paul Collingwood (11/2 at Boylesports)
Top Pakistan batsman: Misbah-ul-Haq (7/1 at Bet365)