Woakes nevertheless suggested England had been short of their best in the first two matches against Pakistan – victories by 44 runs (DLS method) and four wickets – and that the 169-run thumping handed out on Tuesday “wasn’t perfect”, at least from a bowling perspective. The most notable among the home side is a call-up for Jonny Bairstow to keep wicket following the warm-up where we presume Jos Buttler strained something.
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Pakistan were held to 247 for eight after winning the toss.
After racking up a new all-time world record highest one-day worldwide total at Trent Bridge two days ago, the hosts chose to freshen up their side – and also had to make an enforced change.
On a surface which brought the bowlers – especially spinners – fairly into the equation, there was never any prospect of an assault on the record books this time.
FIVE Yorkshire players have taken the field for England in today’s fourth one-day global with Pakistan at sun-drenched Headingley.
The premise of a routine chase was undermined, however, with England in a decidedly awkard spot by the 15-over mark.
Mohammad Rizwan also came in for the out-of-form Shoaib Malik.
But Root, one of five Yorkshire players in the side, fell when his top-edged pull off Hasan Ali was safely caught at fine leg by Irfan.
It was not until he had a run-a-ball 50 under his belt that Stokes picked out deep midwicket off Imad – and if any fresh doubts were briefly sown, Bairstow ensured they did not last long.
Off the penultimate ball of the innings, Gul also hit Willey for six but Pakistan now needed a special display on the field to prevent another England win. Liam Plunkett and Jordan removed openers Sami Aslam (24) and Sharjeel Khan (16) respectively before the spinners took control.
Rizwan was lbw, failing to account for Rashid’s variations.
Pakistan had only four wickets in hand for their final 10.
England have an unassailable 3-0 Royal London Series lead, with the first of two remaining matches at Headingley on Thursday, and are unbeaten in all nine white-ball matches to date this summer.
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The fourth match of the series will be played at Headingley, Leeds today.
