He watched on from the Trent Bridge dressing room as England racked up 444 for 3 – as did his key ally in this match, Stokes, but at least he was in the XI – and while he acknowledged the enviable options that are helping produce England’s eye-catching displays it does not make missing out any easier.
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Pakistan have lost ODI series against England, after defeating them in an away Test series.
Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow shared a 103-run stand as England beat Pakistan by four wickets to keep their hopes of a series whitewash alive.
England, which went 4-0 up in the five-match series with the win, sank to 72 for 4 pursuing a target of 248. Jonny Bairstow was thrust into action and he responded with a knock of 61. However, the outcome might have been different had the 34-year-old Irfan, who removed openers Jason Roy and Alex Hales in a return of two for 26, stayed on the field.
Pakistan’s top order struggled against spinners Adil Rashid, who took 3-47, and Moeen, 2-39, before captain Azhar Ali’s 80 and Imad Wasim’s quickfire late unbeaten 57 off 41 balls gave the visitors a competitive total.
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 worldwide series at home to Pakistan. “We had a chance to win that game the other day”, Mahmood said.
Super-sub Bairstow wasn’t even supposed to be playing, but got a last-minute call up thanks to an injury to Jos Buttler who felt a tight hamstring in the warm up and pulled out of the game.
Bairstow, despite hitting a huge six down the ground off Mohammad Nawaz, was more circumspect, seemingly set on being at the crease until the bitter end.
Liam Plunkett took a superb catch leaping to his left at mid-on to account for Sarfraz Ahmed off Rashid, who trapped Mohammad Rizwan in front and ended Azhar’s cautious 108-ball innings courtesy of a miscued drive to long-off.
“We did a fantastic job with the ball, a special mention for the spinners and the guys who came in, David Willey and Chris Jordan”, England captain Eoin Morgan said.
Pakistan’s tall left-arm fast bowler, Mohammed Irfan has been ruled out for the rest of the England tour after bowling just five overs in the fourth One-day International (ODI) at Leeds.
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Plunkett’s second catch was a stand-out, and removed the unsafe Sarfraz Ahmed who hadn’t been able to break free, when he flung himself to his left at mid-on to intercept Sarfraz’s attempt to send Rashid down the ground. After two day trials at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Islamabad the Pakistan Hockey Federation Saturday announced 18 member Pakistan Under-18 team for the 4th Junior Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh scheduled to be played from September 24-30, 2016. His innings included four fours and a six.
