With just 12 required of the last three overs, Moeen Ali charged down the wicket twice in span of five balls during Pakistan captain Azhar Ali’s over to smoke him for two towering sixes – the last one sealing the game.
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Morgan has led England to a 4-0 lead over Pakistan and the cusp of a historical achievement if they can wrap up a maiden 5-0 home whitewash in Cardiff on Sunday, and possibly a second next week when success in Manchester too would deliver a first unbeaten home summer in white-ball cricket.
Pakistan’s tall left-arm fast bowler, Mohammad Irfan has been ruled out for the rest of the England tour after bowling just five overs in the fourth one-day global at Leeds.
After losing early wickets in the start, Pakistani middle-order batsmen Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed played responsible innings and batted for 77 and 90 runs respectively which greatly lifted the side s morale.
“The way Sarfraz batted, this whole tour he’s been exceptional”, said Azhar following a much-needed win.
Despite their consolation victory, the 4-1 scoreline has meant that Pakistan have plummeted to their lowest-ever rating of 86 points in the International Cricket Council ODI rankings. “It’s great to be the first player to play with the roof closed, on the competition, because I was the first player to hit in the centre court with the roof closed”, said Nadal, who found “no big difference” on the court with the roof closed. “Leading by example is very important”. I will try and keep that form in the coming series. “That will help the team”.
“It’s a very happy camp right now because it has been a very tough tour for us in ODIs, getting a victory at the end and finishing on a high is really good, especially chasing 300 is really satisfying”, Azhar said.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur made it clear that some members of his ODI were on borrowed time after another defeat by England raised fears the team might not qualify automatically for the 2019 World Cup.
But Pakistan have an eye already on returns next summer for the Champions Trophy and, depending on an improvement in their ODI ranking of ninth, the World Cup in 2019.
Asked about his readiness or otherwise to venture to Bangladesh, following the siege of a Dhaka cafe which claimed 29 lives in July, Morgan said: “Reluctant isn’t the word”.
Pakistan lost the match by four wickets to go 4-0 down in a five-match series. “We’re disappointed to lose, but I don’t think it was that bad a performance”.
“He was put on standby when we selected our one-day squad, he went to the national academy and did his training”. “Every game throughout the series, we’ve come out with a hunger and determination to perform at our best”, Morgan said at the post-match press conference.
Morgan pointed out that all sides are playing some really strong cricket and, therefore, it is extremely hard to label anyone as favourites.
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The series result against Pakistan have seen England move from 106 points to 107 points in fifth position three behind India and South Africa, who are at 110 points each with India ranked ahead of South Africa on decimal points.
