Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan, left, is congratulated after taking the wicket of Jason Roy during the fourth one day global cricket match between England and Pakistan, at Headingley, in Leeds, England, on September 1, 2016. However, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow proved their worth and led their side to an easy four-wicket win at the end.
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England’s strength is that they can rely on everyone. Bairstow was drafted in as a last-minute replacement for Jos Buttler.
Bairstow and Ben Stokes steered England to victory with their match-winning partnership, as England beat Pakistan by four wickets to clinch the series. After being clubbed for a record 444 runs in the last ODI, Pakistan made four changes in their line-up.
Returning to ODI cricket after a hiatus of eight months, Mohammad Irfan drew first blood on the 17th ball of England innings when his good-length delivery took a thick edge of Jason Roy’s bat to be caught by Mohammad Rizwan, positioned at second slip. Roy was gone for 14 and his fellow opener Hales lasted not much longer.
Buttler had shone at Trent Bridge with a startling 90 from 51 balls.
But Root, one of five Yorkshire players in the side, fell when his top-edged pull off Hasan Ali was safely caught at fine leg by Irfan. The large Pakistan contingent in the sell-out ground roared and tooted their horns.
Imad restricted England to little more than three an over in two impressive spells.
Stokes, not required to bat on Tuesday, combined aggression and maturity, while Bairstow replicated the sparkling Test form he has shown this year.
After entertaining the home crowd with six fours and two maximums, Stokes was surely annoyed to get out for 69 with a weak slog-sweep to Babar Azam at deep midwicket off Imad Wasim (1-50).
“We wanted to finish on a high, we’ve had a tough tour, congratulations to England”, Azhar said.
Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood said that though the team management was unhappy with Irfan’s fitness, he acknowledged that the height of the 34-year-old posed a unique set of challenges.
The England bowlers too played their part, especially the spinners with Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali combining to take five Pakistani wickets for just 86 runs off their 20 overs. Moeen did not concede a single boundary.
Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz were replaced by the statuesque Irfan and veteran Umar Gul. England left out pace bowlers Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, with their places taken by left-arm quick David Willey and all-rounder Chris Jordan. Captain Azhar Ali amassed 80, while there was also an unbeaten half-century for Imad Wasim. Then Rashid signed off with the wicket of Azhar, whose hard work culminated only in a tame chip to long-off from the final ball of the leg-spinner’s 10 overs.
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“You want to contribute every time you go out to the middle, the last two games it hasn’t gone to plan for me but this is such an exciting side to play in”.
