Pakistan's hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals have been dealt a major blow after New Zealand's emphatic victory over Sri Lanka.
With New Zealand now firmly in the mix for a top-four finish, Pakistan will need to beat England by a colossal margin of 300 runs to usurp their net run rate (NRR) and secure their own passage to the knockout stages.
The task facing Pakistan is daunting, to say the least. England have a formidable batting lineup, and they will be desperate to avenge their defeat to Pakistan in the group stage.
However, Pakistan have shown in recent matches that they are capable of playing some explosive cricket, and they will need to be at their very best if they are to achieve their improbable goal.
If Pakistan are to beat England by 300 runs, they will need to chase down a target of 150 in just 3.4 overs. This would require them to score at a rate of under 50 runs per over, which is a tall order even for the most prolific batting lineups in the world.
Of course, there are many factors that could derail Pakistan's plans. England have a strong bowling attack, and they will be determined to prevent Pakistan from chasing down a low target. However, if Pakistan can get off to a good start and build momentum, they could be well on their way to achieving their unlikely goal.
It will be a fascinating contest to watch, and it will be interesting to see if Pakistan can pull off a miracle and reach the semi-finals.
