The Pakistani team – now on tour of England – lost the first two matches of the five-match ODI series while batted first in both the matches and reached a total of 260 and 251 respectively.
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Root steadied England with two fours in as many balls off Hasan Ali but Alex Hales’s lean run continued when he was bowled for 14 trying to slog-sweep Wasim.
Pakistan’s Imad Wasim consoles England’s Joe Root (L) as he walks back to the pavilion after losing his wcket for 89 during play in the second one day global (ODI) cricket match between England and Pakistan at Lord’s cricket ground in London on August 27, 2016. In first ODI, Imad Wasim and Muhammad Nawaz were given preference over Yasir Shah for what Captain Azhar Ali said at the toss that by virtue of their batting capabilities, Yasir Shah was overlooked.
“I´ve bowled for about 15 minutes flat out and all the build-up stuff I needed to do has been done, so if I am needed hopefully Eoin will ask”.
England will look to put off-field issues to one side when they face Pakistan in the second one-day worldwide tomorrow. “He seems to be batting on a different wicket to everyone else”.
Ben Stokes made a brisk 42 before Root, who hit just five fours in his patient knock, holed out off Wahab Riaz with England in sight of the target at 240 for 6.
And while Pakistan’s options appear to be diminishing, opener Mohammad Hafeez having withdrawn from the squad, the hosts can look forward to adding another string to their bow for the final three games.
Wednesday’s game – Arthur’s second ODI as Pakistan’s coach – was another reminder of how much work the coach will need to do to bring the team at par with other leading sides in the two shorter formats of the game.
Shortly after reaching his century he survived being given out lbw when a review showed Plunkett’s slow off-cutter was missing leg stump.
Babar Azam was his first foil, playing fluently for 30 before Liam Plunkett’s brisk yorker dislodged a bail via bat and boot.
But Ahmed, as he d often done during the preceding 2-2 drawn Test series, frustrated England with a mixture of orthodox and improvised shots.
England’s 50-over cricket has undergone something of a revival since their dire first-round exit at last year’s World Cup.
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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.
