Earlier wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed (105) became the first Pakistan batsman to score an ODI hundred at Lord’s after his side collapsed to two for three.
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“When Ben Stokes [is fit] to bowl, England are definitely even stronger”.
England fans would be forgiven for thinking that a rare series whitewash could be on the cards for Eoin Morgan’s side in the coming week.
England and Pakistan played their second game of the five-ODI series at Lord’s cricket ground.
Indeed, their total was just six more than West Indies managed in their Twenty20 match against India in the United States on Saturday.
The Prime Minister, a keen fan of the game, was spotted at Lord’s, where she saw England take on Pakistan in a one-day global.
It says everything about the value England place on Ben Stokes that he should be preferred to a batsman of the quality of Jonny Bairstow for the opening two one-day victories against Pakistan even though he was unable to bowl.
Weak, pedestrian batting and rudderless leadership in the field saw them lose this match by the flattering margin of just four wickets to go 2-0 down in the series. That decision came into question nearly immediately as Mark Wood had Sami Aslam strangled down the leg-side and the Durham paceman uprooted Sharjeel Khan’s off-stump in spectacular fashion.
“I´ve bowled for about 15 minutes flat out and all the build-up stuff I needed to do has been done, so if I am needed hopefully Eoin will ask”.
Wood then dismissed Sharjeel Khan for nought with an express delivery that cut sharply in to knock over off stump.
“I told the players that nobody is safe and if you are over 30 I am afraid you have to come to the table more often than not otherwise it gives us an opportunity to blood some younger players”, Arthur said ahead of Pakistan’s second ODI against England at Lord’s.
Azhar also fell for a duck when caught behind off Woakes.
But soon after, in trying to accelerate the scoring towards the end of the innings, he swept an Adil Rashid ball straight to Alex Hales at deep midwicket.
England’s 50-over cricket has undergone something of a revival since their dire first-round exit at last year’s World Cup.
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Imad Wasim, in striking Plunkett for six, four, four, hit his second ODI half century from 57 balls before Yasir Shah sent his first ball from Wood high in the air for Jason Roy to take a simple catch at cover.
