Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik’s sublime 163-run partnership proved crucial as Pakistan avoided a series whitewash with a four-wicket victory over England in Sunday’s fifth one-day global.
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Sarfraz Ahmed fell 10 runs short of his second century of the series and Shoaib Malik passed 50 for the first time in 35 worldwide innings in England as their fourth-wicket partnership of 163 off 141 balls put Pakistan in sight of their target.
“I thought it was a great opportunity to get Liam Dawson on to the worldwide stage in one-day cricket with one eye towards the winter”.
Middle-order batters Shoaib Malik and wicket keeper-batsman Sarfraz are at the crease looking to guide Pakistan towards their possible first one-day win of the tour.
The run chase at Headingley was the most pressure England had been under during this series when they slipped to 72 for 4.
Azhar said Sarfraz had been really positive throughout the series and scored good runs for the side while batting at number five, the Express Tribune reported.
Since the departure of Alastair Cook from England’s ODI setup after the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka in December 2014, Alex Hales and Jason Roy have given a new dimension to the way England open their innings in ODIs.
“We needed a partnership, we knew he [Dawson] was playing his first match so that’s why we tried to play positively”. “I am not happy to lose today but all-round performances through the season have been really good”, said Eoin Morgan, the England captain.
Pakistan feared the worse when Mohammad Nawaz (2) was run out shortly after, but Mohammad Rizwan (34) and Imad Wasim (16) steered them over the line with 10 balls to spare.
The senior batsman was a surprise choice as the Pakistan ODI captain after Misbah-ul-Haq retired from the format following last year’s World Cup.
Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood has urged his side to follow England’s example as they look to stage a one-day global revival of their own.
England looked favourites when Mark Wood struck twice in three balls to peg the tourists back to 77 for three.
Roy’s eight fours and two sixes from 87 balls provided the foundation for Stokes and Jonny Bairstow to repeat the dose after their match-winning stand at Headingley three days ago. Despite Azhar’s knock, Pakistan was tottering at 180 for 7 at one stage, and only a feisty, unbeaten 41-ball 57 from Imad Wasim, the allrounder, at No. 8 helped it to a respectable total.
Since Muhammad Irfan has returned Pakistan after he received injury in last match, Muhammad Amir is most likely to place him in fifth ODI.
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But Roy fell short of three figures, holing out to Mohammad Amir, and Stokes, who had started slowly, was stopped in his tracks after hitting the accelerator when he steered Hasan Ali to short fine leg.
