3rd ODI: England easily overcome sloppy Pakistan to go 2-1 up
England tour of United Arab Emirates, 3rd ODI: England v Pakistan at Sharjah, Nov 17, 2015
Pakistan 208 (49.5 ov)
England 210/4 (41.0 ov)
England won by 6 wickets (with 54 balls remaining)
Paceman Chris Woakes took 4-40 as England bowled and fielded well to dismiss sloppy Pakistan for a paltry 208 in the third day-night international in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Pakistan looked set for a big total after winning the toss and deciding to bat on a flat Sharjah stadium pitch but suffered an alarming collapse, losing nine wickets for 116 runs after being well placed at 92-1 in the 20th over.
Their cause was not helped by three unnecessary run outs of skipper Azhar Ali (36), Mohammad Rizwan (one) and Shoaib Malik (16) with Woakes the main wicket taker.
It was only through a ninth wicket stand of 26 between Wahab Riaz (33 not out) and Zafar Gohar (15) that Pakistan got past the 200-mark.
Pakistan were off to a confident start when Azhar and Babar Azam (22) put on 45 by the 11th over before Woakes broke the opening stand when he had Azam caught in the deep off a short delivery in his third over.
Ali and Moahmmad Hafeez, who top scored with 45, took the score to 92 when the Pakistani skipper failed to regain the crease as the pair set off for a difficult single from point.
Pakistan lost the next five wickets with the addition of just 53 runs to slump to 145-6 in the 36th over as Hafeez and Sarfraz Ahmed (26) were caught in the deep in successive overs.
Hafeez hit two sixes and two boundaries off 71 balls.
Mohammad Rizwan was casually run out for one while Iftikhar Ahmed hooked a Woakes delivery straight into the hands of Joe Root at deep square leg after scoring just three and Anwar Ali made seven.
Riaz smashed three sixes in his 35-ball knock as Woakes ended the innings off the penultimate delivery.
The series is tied at 1-1 after Pakistan won the first match and England won the second.
Pakistan were forced to leave out leg-spinner Yasir Shah after he suffered a knee injury, making way for left-armer Gohar’s one-day debut while England remained unchanged.
49.5: CR Woakes to Mohammad Irfan, WICKET (Bowled)
46.3: CR Woakes to Zafar Gohar, WICKET (Caught)
41.2: RJW Topley to Wahab Riaz, WICKET (Run Out)
39.3: RJW Topley to Anwar Ali, WICKET (Caught)
35.4: CR Woakes to Iftikhar Ahmed, WICKET (Caught)
32.2: MM Ali to Mohammad Rizwan, WICKET (Run Out)
30.3: MM Ali to Sarfraz Ahmed, WICKET (Caught)
29.4: DJ Willey to Mohammad Hafeez , WICKET (Caught)
19.3: AU Rashid to Mohammad Hafeez , WICKET (Run Out)
10.6: CR Woakes to Babar Azam, WICKET (Caught)
21.5: Shoaib Malik to EJG Morgan, WICKET (Bowled)
20.3: Zafar Gohar to AD Hales, WICKET (Caught)
5.5: Zafar Gohar to JE Root, WICKET (Caught)
2.2: Mohammad Irfan to JJ Roy, WICKET (Caught)
WICKET! Shoaib Malik gets English captain Eoin Morgan with one which pitched on middle and hit off stump. England four down in pursuit of Pakistan’s 209.
WICKET Hales edges a beautifully looped up Zafar Gohar delivery to Rizwan at first slip. Much needed breakthrough for Pakistan.
WICKET! And the ideal start for Pakistan as Irfan gets rid of the belligerent Jason Roy. Irfan was around the wicket and the batsman’s attempted paddle towards fine leg took the leading edge and fell comfortably in the hands of Shoaib Malik in the covers.
WICKET! Young Zafar Gohar departs on run-a-ball 15. Wokes gets the wicket as the batsman tries to make it maximum. Outside edge straight to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
WICKET! Woakes to Babar Azam, a shortish delivery which the batsman had a go at but couldn’t really connect. Adil Rashid takes a neat catch at fine leg.
WICKET! Unfortunate run out in the middle. Hafeez cuts Adil Rashid on the off side and calls for a single, but Azhar on the other end wasn’t really interested in one. Seeing Pakistan’s batsmen confused out there, England fielder James Taylor made no mistake and dismissed the Pakistan captain at the wicketkeeper’s end.
WICKET!Hafeez, in his attempt to go hard at the ball, finds himself caught at deep square-leg. D Willey provides England with the much-needed breakthrough as Joe Root takes a fine catch. 40-run partnership between Hafeez and Sarfraz come to an end. Shoaib Malik is the new man in for Pakistan.
WICKET Sarfaraz comes down the track to Moeen Ali’s ball and tries to hit it over long-on but it ends safely in Chris Jordan’s hands. Mohammad Rizwan comes to the crease.
WICKET Total miscommunication between Rizwan and Malik leads to the former losing his wicket cheaply. It’s slipping away from Pakistan earlier than they expected. Iftikhar is the next man in
WICKET! Young Zafar Gohar departs on run-a-ball 15. Wokes gets the wicket as the batsman tries to make it maximum. Outside edge straight to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
WICKET! Pakistan are clearly losing the plot here. Wahab Riaz plays it on the leg side off Topley, and Malik, on the non-striker’s end, calls for a sharp single. Despite Malik’s experience and judgement, there was never a single there. Malik finds himself run out at the non-striker’s courtesy his own poor call.
WICKET! Topley to Anwar Ali, the batsman tries to go over the top but doesn’t even manage to clear the inner circle. Moeen Ali takes an easy catch at mid-on.
WICKET Pakistan’s collapse continues as Iftikhar Ahmed mistimes a pull shot and gets caught on deep square-leg.
WICKET!Woakes cleans up Mohammad Irfan. Clean bowled. So, that’s all from Pakistan’s innings. 208 all out in 49.5 overs.
