Ben Stokes is looking forward to giving England an extra bowling option as they go in search of a one-day worldwide series-clinching win against Pakistan at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
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Ahmed made 105 off 130 balls at Lord’s with six fours and led Pakistan’s recovery after England seamers had mopped up the top order to reduce the tourists to 3-2 inside the first four overs.
Aggressive pace bowling, with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood taking three wickets apiece, left England chasing a modest target of 252.
England s chase suffered a setback when in-form opener Jason Roy – who made a dashing 65 at Southampton – fell for a second-ball duck as he played on to Mohammad Amir.
Sarfraz Ahmed hit a gritty century and anchored Pakistan to 251 after an early collapse in the second one-day worldwide against England on Saturday.
On Wednesday they went 1-0 up in this five-match series without a run from Jos Buttler or anything at all from Jonny Bairstow, who has now been handed back to Yorkshire.
In 2010 he lost the key to his ministerial red box while watching an England v Pakistan test match at the ground, which is in his Rushcliffe constituency.
They have now won 10 of the last 11 one-day games against Pakistan.
Winning the toss, Azhar Ali and his troops came out to bat and where in a spot of bother from the beginning.
Sarfraz continued working steadily towards three figures alongside Imad Wasim and reached the landmark with just his sixth boundary of the day, tucking Plunkett towards fine leg before leaping high in celebration.
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While Sarfraz took a couple of early boundaries off Wood – once driving an over-pitched ball and once pulling a short one – he was generally obliged to adopt a low-risk approach. But the spiky wicketkeeper-batsman became Adil Rashid’s only victim the following over, picking out Alex Hales at deep midwicket with a slog sweep. He’s such a cool and calm head. Anyone who witnessed the performance of Azhar Ali’s side at Lord’s on Saturday would have been forgiven for thinking Moores had taken the job. Pakistan’s hopes were dashed when Root added another 56-run stand with Ben Stokes (42) to bring the 200-run mark for England. “Honestly, it makes the fielding innings seem a lot longer”. Even their coach Mickey Arthur has admitted his side are “behind the times” when it comes to one-day cricket, and that’s borne out by totals of 260 and 251 batting first in the opening two games.
