England’s Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow struck half centuries to guide the hosts to a four-wicket victory over Pakistan in the fourth one-day global in Leeds on Thursday as they went 4-0 ahead in the five-match series.
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Skipper Eoin Morgan insisted he had no regrets over team selection as his side missed the chance to whitewash Pakistan after slipping to a four-wicket defeat in the final 50-over tussle of the series at Cardiff.
England’s Moeen Ali hits a six during Fourth One Day International cricket game against Pakistan at Headingly, on Friday, September 2, 2016.
They lost wickets at regular intervals and even though opener Jason Roy powered his way to 87 and Ben Stokes batted supremely for his 75, England could and should have scored more.
Hasan Ali’s career-best four for 60 limited England – and then with the onus on the hosts to bowl better than they batted, Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik’s record stand of 163 proved decisive as Pakistan at last belied their number nine world ranking.
The ODI series will be followed by a T20 match between Pakistan and England.
England’s improvement is dramatic, but Azhar can explain its origins since current assistant Paul Farbrace first took the reins from Peter Moores. “When Mooresy left and Farby took over, that’s the time they thought, “we’ve got not nothing to lose, we just need to express ourselves on the field”.
The Irishman did not deny his natural disappointment after England fell short in their bid for a piece of history, but was looking optimistically at the bigger picture – which includes a Champions Trophy next season and then a World Cup in 2019, both on home soil.
Azhar has often been compared unfavourably to celebrated Test captain Misbahul Haq, who has led Pakistan to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) standings in the five-day game.
But Azhar responded to suggestions he might resign the captaincy by indicating he meant to carry on as skipper. So I’ve got a lot of faith in him. “I think that is very important”. I’d have played Rashid as he is someone who needs to keep bowling. “That will help the team”.
He said: “It’s a very happy camp right now – because it has been a very tough tour for us in ODIs, and getting a victory at the end and finishing on a high is really good”.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have made two changes in their line-up.
England are now ranked fifth in the ICC ODI rankings but their performances of late merit them a higher place, which should come if they can remain consistent in the shorter formats.
“We’ve been outstanding”, Morgan said.
Morgan, though, remained heartened by England´s commitment to an aggressive approach in ODI cricket since their World Cup debacle. “The guys are hungry to learn more and want to win games of cricket”.
The Irishman also insists his decision is not pivotal to other players merely because he is captain of the limited-overs team, and has explained his inability to make up his mind yet is largely down to the fact England are in the middle of a one-day global series at home to Pakistan.
This was a real blinder, but it wasn’t taken by any of the players.
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Arthur, now coaching his third Test side after spells in charge of his native South Africa and Australia, added: “I’m finding my way with the one-day team”.
