JASON ROY overcame a bout of dizziness before sending Pakistan’s bowlers whirling and spinning to defeat. The in-form Surrey batsman struck a belligerent 65 from 56 balls as the hosts won the rain-affected game by 44 runs.
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“Alex played very well in the limited-overs matches in South Africa last winter, even though he didn’t have the best time in the Tests”.
And Roy may well be joining him if he continues this rich vein of form.
Veteran Ian Bell is not likely to be chosen.
“Not really, I’m not a doctor but it was a case of not having enough sugar on me, apparently”, he said when asked to explain what had happened. Stayed calm, got my fluids on, got my sugar on, got away.
“I was able to get my bearings, settle and re-set myself and just go again”, he added. “The style and brand of cricket they are playing is just phenomenal”.
But he did need treatment after a hard run two before picking up where he left off.
With Joe Root making a half-century nearly as he pleased – he finished with 61 from 72 balls – there was an inevitability about England taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Eoin Morgan feels he has the tools at his disposal to douse Pakistan’s flame in the forthcoming Royal London One-Day Series.
Their total of 260-6 always looked inadequate and Roy’s assault made sure the required run-rate was comfortable throughout England’s chase.
However, wicketkeeper Ahmed called for the catch, only to make insufficient ground and drop the chance despite getting both gloves to the ball.
Root was sold down the river when captain Eoin Morgan called for a suicidal single.
Bowling: Woakes 10-2-43-1; Wood 10-0-57-1; Plunkett 10-0-52-1; Root 4-0-26-1; Ali 7-0-30-0; Rashid 9-0-51-2.
Azhar’s two-paced innings ended when the captain, in do-or-die mood, swept at Rashid from outside off and top-edged a simple catch to Moeen Ali at short third man.
England were set 261 to win after a fine bowling performance which included a wicket for fast bowler Mark Wood in his first global game for 10 months.
They will be told they can withdraw from the tour without it being held against them.
“They are a little bit more hit and miss in one-day cricket at the moment”.
“They can play cricket here wholeheartedly – they don’t have to think of anything else”. In the meantime, the 15 players we’ve got here, we’ve got to back, [and] give them the opportunity to stake their claim to be part of the Pakistan ODI squad going forward.
The Foreign Office advises travellers to Bangladesh not to visit areas where westerners are known to congregate.
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By contrast, it is just ninth in the ODI standings and in danger of missing out on automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in England.
