It looks a glorious day in Leeds where Pakistan have won the toss and taken the option of batting first.
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But the fit-again Imad Wasim’s unbeaten 57 and his eighth-wicket stand of 56 with Hasan Ali took Pakistan past 200.
England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named all-rounder Ben Stokes and fast bowler Mark Wood in the Twenty20 global (T20I) squad for the one-off fixture against Pakistan in Old Trafford on September 7. However, Hasan Ali (2-74) surprised Roy with a bouncer which he nicked to Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps.
“What a monumental knock from Alex Hales on his home ground, our innings was based around that, not to undermine Joe Root’s part in that”, Morgan said.
But with England’s other Trent Bridge big-hitter Buttler absent, his replacement Bairstow set about making up the shortfall.
“It was very tough today”, said Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali.
The premise of a routine chase was undermined, however, with England in a decidedly awkard spot by the 15-over mark.
5 Number of consecutive 50s for Root in ODIs. He also hoisted Plunkett and Rashid for two well-struck sixes. “In the key times we missed chances, especially the wicket of Hales on 70”.
The opening batsman surpassed Robin Smith’s record ODI score for England and the breathtaking Jos Buttler (90 not out off 51 balls) hit the last delivery of the innings to the boundary to ensure England posted a mammoth 444-3.
Pakistan made a brief comeback in the game as they dismissed Root in the next over.
England’s limited-overs wicketkeeper is the owner of his country’s three fastest ODI hundreds.
England’s 444 for 3 was built on 171 from opener Alex Hales – an ODI record for an Englishman – and included Jos Buttler striking a 22-ball fifty, another national best.
The huge score by England betters the previous record of 443-9 registered by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands back in 2006.
The squad includes nine of the players who steered England to an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the Ageas Bowl.
Chris Woakes believes hitting 500 in 50 overs is not totally out of England’s reach as the team prepares for the fourth ODI with Pakistan.
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England’s one-day cricket is in rude health right now but the same can not be said of Pakistan who desperately need a change in fortunes in ODIs and T20Is. The last time they lost a series to Pakistan was in 2005. At the end of 10 overs, Pakistan were 83 for three.
