In-form India look to wrap up series

The relative benefits of home advantage against momentum and form have bet365 struggling to find a favourite for the fourth one-day international between Pakistan and India, which takes place in Multan on Thursday.

Pakistan just about have the advantage in the market at 4/5 (1.80), but India, who have won two matches in succession to take a 2-1 lead in the five-game series, are 9/10 (1.90) to clinch a win which would wrap up a series triumph and bring them some consolation for their defeat in the Test series.

If Pakistan are going to win in Multan, then not only are they going to have stop Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Co, but they also have to find some sort of consistency among their own batsmen.

Lacking consistency
Though Shoaib Malik made a century in the last match, their top order failed, and the openers are a fair way down the betting for top runscorer honours in Multan. Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf share favouritism at 9/2 (5.50), while Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt are all 5/1 (6.00). Younis Khan is 11/2 (6.50) and Imran Farhat 6/1 (7.00).

But with Shahid Afridi now out of the series and Shoaib Akhtar also missing, their options are limited.

For India, Tendulkar is the obvious favourite after finding his form in the one-day series. The little maestro is just 3/1 (4.00) to come out on top, while the ever-dependable captain Dravid is 4/1 (5.00). Yuvraj Singh follows at 5/1 (6.00), Mahendra Dhoni is 11/2 (6.50) and Gautam Gambhir is 6/1 (7.00).