ENG vs PAK ODI. England Looking to continue their winning form. Pakistan looking for a consolation win in a lost series. Edgbaston was the venue this time around. Pitch was good for bowling but it was not that of the deal with the white ball. England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bowl first.
First innings Pakistan scoring 330/9 in 50 overs.
Pakistan started the innings calmly. Fakhar Zaman did not survive long and inform, Saqib Mahmood got him in the 5th over. Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam built a good 92 runs partnership. Before Matt Parkinson got imam with classic and unplayable leg-spin. Imam scored 56 runs off 73 balls hitting 7 boundaries. Mohammad Rizwan joined the party and started scoring on the fly. He scored 74 from 58 balls hitting 8 boundaries. He was dismissed by Brydon carse breaking a big partnership of 179 runs in the 46th over of the game. Babar Azam scored 158 runs from 139 balls hitting 14 fours and 4 sixes as well. England put on the brakes on Pakistan’s run rate after the wicket. As Pakistan managed to reach 330 / 9. Which is 15 runs less on the pitch which will only get better for batting as time passes.
Second innings England survives by a late blossom by Gregory.
England lost Dawid Malan early for a 2nd ball duck. Hasan Ali took the wicket. But it didn’t affect Phil Salt at all. As he with Zack Crawley fired some attractive shots. He did not survive long and got out in the 7 over scoring 37 off 22 balls. England was then 52/2. Zack Crawley looking well set at 39 runs was bowled by Haris Rauf in the 13 over. Ben stokes came next scored 32 runs from 28 balls. He tried to take the game till the end but was unable to do as he was dismissed by Shadab Khan. He again struck 2 overs later in the form of George Simpson.
It was a tense situation in the England dressing room. When Lewis Gregory played an important knock of 77 runs from 69 balls. Pakistan saw a chance to win Gregory got out in the 45 over and still 28 runs to win. Craig Overton and Brydon carse made sure they got to the finish line successfully. Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowler taking 4 wickets. Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali took 2 and 1 wicket respectively. Both the teams played well. And when the dust settled it was England across the finish line.
Watch the recent ENG vs PAK ODI match highlight here.
Now next is the T20s to focus on. Pakistan is always very dangerous side in the T20 format. Check out our site daily for following the T20 series.
