England beat Pakistan by four wickets in the second-one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Joe Root made 89 as England, set 252 to win, finished on 255 for six with 15 balls to spare
Englandu00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0099s Joe Root bats during the first ODI against Pakistan in Southampton on Saturday
London: England beat Pakistan by four wickets in the second-one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Joe Root made 89 as England, set 252 to win, finished on 255 for six with 15 balls to spare.
England’s Joe Root bats during the first ODI against Pakistan in Southampton on Saturday. PIC/AFP
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Earlier, Sarfraz Ahmed became the first Pakistan player to score a one-day international hundred at Lord’s as the tourists fought back after a dramatic collapse against England.
Ahmed’s 105 was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s 251 all out — a seemingly below par total but one that looked well out of reach as they slumped to two for three following captain Azhar Ali’s decision to bat first.
Imad Wasim’s 63 not out was also his career-best score at this level and the left-hander helped Ahmed add 77 for the sixth wicket.
Pacemen Chris Woakes and Mark Wood took three wickets apiece as England looked to go 2-0 up in this five-match series following their 44-run rain-affected win at Southampton on Wednesday.
Pakistan lost recalled opener Sami Aslam (one) following an England review after his attempted pull off Woakes was held down the legside by wicket-keeper Jos Buttler.
There was no hot-spot mark but Australian third umpire Simon Fry decide the spike on real time snicko was large enough to give Aslam out. But there was no doubt at all when Wood dismissed Sharjeel Khan for nought with an express delivery that cut sharply off the seam to knock over the left-hander’s off stump. Azhar also fell for a duck when caught behind off Woakes. Babar Azam and Ahmed kept England at bay, with Babar (30) hitting several stylish boundaries before he played on to Plunkett.
Pakistan were now 66 for four. 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.
Shoaib Malik (28) struck a straight six against off-spinner Moeen Ali in a fifth-wicket partnership of 59 before Wood’s return saw him caught behind.
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