Pakistan has won the toss against England in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) on Thursday and made a decision to bat first.
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He has since lost form in a maiden Test summer, however, while Bairstow has been left out of England’s successful ODI team against Pakistan despite his outstanding form as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Alex Hales, Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan looked in wonderful touch as they hit the Pakistan bowlers all around the park.
“I did well against Sri Lanka but didn’t do myself justice against Pakistan”.
Nottinghamshire right-hander Hales passed Robin Smith’s 167 not out – set during England’s defeat to Australia at Edgbaston in 1993 – with 171 in 121 balls, a score which included 22 fours and four sixes, in the 37th over of England’s innings.
22 Balls taken by Jos Buttler to reach 50, the fastest by an England batsman in one day internationals surpassing Paul Collingwood’s 24-ball 50 against New Zealand at Napier in 2008.
After entertaining the home crowd with six fours and two sixes, 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). No bowler before Riaz had conceded 100 runs for Pakistan in ODIs. The total meant they overtook Sri Lanka’s record of 443 for nine against Netherlands in July 2006.
It’s been a dominant series so far for England, having barely been challenged by a Pakistan outfit that is a far cry from the team that drew the Test series two-all.
While all proud records went to England, Pakistan did manage to claim one feat they would cherish.
Chasing Pakistan’s 247-8 in Leeds, half centuries from Ben Stokes (69) and Jonny Bairstow (61) guided Eoin Morgan’s men into a commanding position, assisted by Joe Root (30). Both the teams have played 21 ODIs against each other during this period with England winning 15 and Pakistan just five whereas one game was ended as no-result.
Although England managed to register the highest ODI total of all-time during the 3 match at Trent Bridge, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has come up with a freakish claim that they were 20 to 30 runs short.
The victory in the third ODI also means England have taken the five-match series 3-0 and the way they are playing at the moment, you wouldn’t put it past them to complete a whitewash.
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Asked if they could repeat or improve on their latest feat, Woakes said: “I think it could happen. but not very often”.
