England lead the five-match series 1-0.
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Sarfraz played sensibly in the circumstances and found another reliable partner in Imad Wasim as the wicketkeeper hit six fours on the way to a second one-day worldwide century before he was out for 105.
But Joe Root’s 89 and 68 from captain Eoin Morgan helped England to a four-wicket win with 15 balls to spare. Pakistan took last 4 wickets only for 1 runs as Ireland crumbled against the power-packed Pakistan’s bowling attack.
Stephen Cook (56) and Quinton de Kock (82) gave South Africa a strong start with an opening partnership of 133.
England beat Pakistan in first game by 44 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis and by four wickets in the second ODI.
By contrast Pakistan, although top of the ICC’s Test standings, are just ninth in the ODI table and in danger of missing out on automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in England. “He seems to be batting on a different wicket to everyone else”. The pair added 64 in 10.3 overs for the fourth wicket, with Babar taking successive boundaries off Woakes, the second of them a sweetly timed cover drive, and Sarfraz taking a couple of boundaries off Wood – once driving an over-pitched ball and once pulling a short one. Speaking on the eve of this second ODI, Arthur said: “Playing the way we played the other night, we’re behind the times”.
Whenever England were under a modicum of pressure, for example when Sarfraz Ahmed has been at the crease or at 35 for 2 in the chase at Lord’s, they have had the depth and confidence to overcome Pakistan convincingly.
England have been chasing modest totals as the Pakistan simply don’t have many batsmen who can score quicker than a run a ball.
England captain Eoin Morgan: “Batting with Joe [Root] is awesome”.
Ben Stokes made a brisk 42 before Root, whose innings featured just five fours and 53 singles, holed out off Wahab Riaz with England in sight of the winning post at 240 for six.
The growing trend in this country is to win the toss and look up rather than down, the atmospherics influencing matters more than a tinge of green underfoot or a puff of dust in response to a rub from the palm of the hand.
England went with an unchanged line-up while Pakistan replaced Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Gul and Mohammad Nawaz with Sami Aslam, Hasan Ali and Yasir Shah.
The Prime Minister, who returned to work from her summer holiday in Switzerland on Wednesday, is the latest in a series of senior Tories who have been been known to enjoy a day at the cricket.
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If he does not make runs at his home ground of Trent Bridge on Tuesday then pressure will build and the chances of Hales touring to Bangladesh and India this winter will begin to look remote.
