Sarfraz Ahmed has hit a gritty century and anchored Pakistan to 251 after an early collapse in the second one-day worldwide against England.
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PAKISTAN: Sharjeel Khan, Azhar Ali (capt), Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir.
With new partner Morgan, Root put on 112 for the third wicket with a pair of half centuries; Morgan’s 30and Root’s 16 in ODI cricket. “He seems to be batting on a different wicket to everyone else”.
Pakistan openers and one-down Azhar Ali were back in the hutch in first 19 balls.
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. “We could have made 300 on this pitch, but after losing those three wickets, we’d have taken 250”.
A 10-over score of 39 for two was modest but England were in safe hands – despite Root hobbling after his collision with Rashid.
To be fair, one also needs to give credit to the English bowlers, primarily Chris Woakes and Mark Wood, who bowled a tight line and length with good pace to stifle the Pakistan batsmen.
In response, England lost the in-form Jason Roy without a run on the board and Alex Hales fell for 14 after an ugly swipe across the line against the spin of Wasim.
The Pakistan all-rounder further warned that the England side would now be even more formidable, especially after the presence of recovered Ben Stokes.
Eoin Morgan says he would have bowled so he’s pretty happy. The bowling is led brilliantly by the Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett. 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.
But Sarfraz, as he had often done during the preceding 2-2 drawn Test series, frustrated England with a mixture of orthodox and improvised shots.
Sarfraz, whose lone previous ODI hundred was against Ireland at last year’s ICC Cricket World Cup, completed a 124-ball century when he glanced Plunkett for his sixth four.
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Now, as England hunt the victory that would see them wrap up the series with two games to spare, Stokes is itching to be let off the leash by captain Eoin Morgan after declaring himself fit to bowl in the third ODI at Trent Bridge.
