Jason Roy overcame an early dizzy spell to leave Pakistan’s bowlers in a spin, lining up England’s One-Day International victory with a resilient 65 at Southampton.
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Rain on a hot and humid day in Southampton disrupted this match three times and meant England’s original target of 261 was reduced downwards to 252 in 48 overs before the weather proved terminal.
Morgan and Root continued England’s charge to victory and even the latter’s run out could not halt their progress, Ben Stokes (15) joining his captain to wrap up the win. He lost partner Babar Azam for a 42-ball 40, though Azam was hugely unlucky.
The nimble-footed Azam scored two-thirds of those runs and was looking increasingly fluent but, a ball after carting a dragged-down Rashid delivery just short of the rope at wide long-on, he received a poor decision from umpire Simon Fry. But there was a worrying moment when Roy, on 20, needed several minutes’ on-field treatment for what a team spokesman later confirmed was a dizzy spell.
Hales has struggled since making his Test debut last winter, averaging 18 in the recent series against Pakistan, and the switch of format did not help him here as he made just seven before edging Umar Gul to slip.
The five-match series continues at Lord’s on Saturday.
Roy, on 24, skied left-arm quick Amir high on the legside.
Mohammad Hafeez duly obliged as Hales made no mistake at the second time of asking and caught Hafeez’s wayward sweep shot at deep square leg.
However, wicketkeeper Ahmed called for the catch, only to make insufficient ground and drop the chance despite getting both gloves to the ball.
With Pakistan languishing at No. 9 in the ICC One-Day International (ODI) Rankings, they have little time to make their presence felt in the top 8 of the standings in order to qualify automatically for the ICC World Cup 2019. But Roy’s innings ended when a lofted drive off spinner Mohammad Nawaz was brilliantly caught just inside the boundary by Babar, running round from long-off.
Ali reached a steady half-century five overs later and went on the attack from then on smashing 32 from his next 23 balls, but Rashid was at it again as the Pakistan captain top-edged to Moeen Ali at short fine leg for 82 from 110 balls. Extras: (lb1, w4) 5.
Azhar and Sarfraz Ahmed (55) joined hands to post a 65-run stand which built a platform to mount a finish at the death.
Indeed England were cruising – Root passing his 50 off 56 balls – until Morgan called the Yorkshireman for a tight single and Root was run out by Azhar Ali’s direct hit. Extras: (lb6, w7) 13.
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But Khan had already used his review and England had the breakthrough after a 61-run partnership and Pakistan were 113-3 from 23 overs. Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-116, 3-158.
