England beat Pakistan by four wickets to claim a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five ODI series, with Joe Root hitting 89 at Lord’s.
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Earlier, Ahmed’s second century in ODIs lifted Pakistan to 251 after they lost three wickets for just two runs inside the first four overs.
Now, as England hunt the victory that would see them wrap up the series with two games to spare, Stokes is itching to be let off the leash by captain Eoin Morgan after declaring himself fit to bowl in the third ODI at Trent Bridge.
Left-hander Morgan s knock on his Middlesex home ground ended a run of 23 worldwide innings without a fifty for the former Ireland star.
Sami Aslam, replacing the out-of-form Mohammad Hafeez, scored one in 10 balls and departed to the slightest brush of glove off Woakes, third umpire Simon Fry overturning the on-field verdict.
Pakistan left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir struck on the second ball of the England innings to clean-bowl Jason Roy, who was the host’s highest run-scorer in the first ODI at Southampton.
England look to be the favourites after their good start in the first match, combined with the advantage that comes from playing at home.
England team (possible): J Roy, A Hales, J Root, E Morgan (c), B Stokes, J Buttler (wkt), M Ali, C Woakes, A Rashid, L Plunkett, M Wood.
Pakistan are determined to prove the one-day worldwide rankings wrong as they bid to stay in the Royal London Series.
“To set the tone like that was brilliant”, Root said.
Root steadied England with two fours in as many balls off Hasan Ali but Alex Hales’s lean run continued when he was bowled for 14 trying to slog-sweep Wasim.
England captain Eoin Morgan: “Batting with Joe [Root] is awesome”. The bowling is led brilliantly by the Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett.
‘I think knowing I wasn’t going to be able to bowl in the opening matches made me work harder on my batting, ‘ said Stokes, who tore a calf bowling in his comeback match after knee surgery in the second Test at Old Trafford.
First Wood uprooted Sharjeel Khan’s off stump with an 87mph beauty that pitched full and seamed perfectly away from the bat, then Woakes unpicked Azhar’s defence with a wonderful swinging delivery that drew a half-hearted edge.
But Sarfraz frustrated England with a mixture of orthodox and improvised shots.
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Ahmed, whose lone previous ODI hundred was against Ireland at a year ago s World Cup, completed a 124-ball century when he leg-glanced Plunkett for his sixth four.
