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.
Advertisement
But his final figures of 8-0-70-2 were expensive in the extreme.
Hales and Root’s partnership was also England’s third-highest in one-day internationals.
“The attitude and hunger to want to be better playing in that manner, I think, sums up the direction one-day worldwide cricket is going and the talent we have. We have shown a lot of strength throughout this series, and more to build on”.
“There’s been hunger and determination to do that”. You always feel you could have done better, that’s the nature of being a professional sportsman. “We want to be better at executing the shots we’re going for, but we’ve been outstanding over the summer. So I’m not happy losing today – but the all-round performance throughout the series, I think, is really good”.
“Liam is quite a street wise cricketer, he has the bit between his teeth with bat and ball”. The only previous one was in Zimbabwe nearly 15 years ago.
Earlier, England’s 302-9 revolved around opening batsman Jason Roy’s 87 and allrounder Ben Stokes’ 75 after Pakistan won the toss and opted to field.
Stokes also needed treatment and a lengthy breather after inside-edging a ball into his protective box.
Meanwhile, England, which will attempt to win its maiden 50-over ICC title when it hosts next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, has sent out a warning to the other sides after its impressive series win against Pakistan.
Roy was in sparkling form, while Stokes found the boundary with increasing ease as his innings progressed, although England’s batting was stifled by the loss of five wickets for 64 runs as only 42 were added in the final eight overs. Despite the reliable excellence of their pace attack, Pakistan are rebuilding and that process will need nous, needle and composure – attributes Sarfraz has in abundance.
Dawson did eventually remove both to wild slogs down the ground and at 256 for 5 England sensed an opportunity to put pressure on a nervous Pakistan side that had only won once, against Ireland, in their previous ten completed ODIs.
Azhar Ali (c), Sarfraz Ahmad (wk), Shaoib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Umar Gul, Ali Hassan, Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Nawaz, Imad Waseem and Yasir Shah. Sarfraz, though, loves a scrap and Shoaib used all his experience to compile his first half-century in 35 global innings in this country.
England and Pakistan will now head to Old Trafford for the NatWest International T20, before winter tours to Bangladesh and India before Christmas.
Advertisement
Dawson was selected ahead of regular spin duo Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid on a Cardiff pitch that favoured the seamers.
