England gave another demonstration of their awesome batting power, reaching a stiff target of 359 at a canter to go 2-0 up in the series
Vic Marks’ match report has landed, so I shall leave you. Thanks for your company - goodnight!
Related: England chase down huge Pakistan total thanks to Jonny Bairstow century
The Man of the Match is Jonny Bairstow “I’m really pleased with that. It’s a bit of change coming back to English conditions after being in India, so it’s great to hit the ground running. I wanted to go on and get 170, 180, 200 not out, and that’s why I was angry when I got out. It’s not bad batting with Jason – we complement each other pretty well, we have a laugh out there and we enjoy each other’s success.”
Here’s Eoin Morgan“I’m extremely proud. We talked at the halfway stage about doing it in our way. We thought 358 was about par for this ground, and the two boys up front were absolutely outstanding. They set the platform for the way we wanted to go about the chase. The bowling performance was good – we restricted them to a par score. Hopefully Mark Wood will play in the next game. His progress has been very good in the last couple of days.”
Here’s Sarfaraz Ahmed“I was confident when we scored 358 but our bowling was not up to the mark. The England openers played very well – they played better than us and that’s why they won. We have to improve our bowling. It’s a positive sign for us that our openers are playing so well. Asif Ali also played really well.”
So, England go 2-0 up in the series with two to play. Even allowing for the ideal batting conditions, that was quite a statement of intent. They equalled the fifth highest chase in ODI history - and did so at a canter, with 31 balls to spare. It was close to a formality after a brutal opening partnership of 159 from 17.3 overs between Jason Roy (76) and Jonny Bairstow (128). England are very good indeed, and we’re lucky to have them.
44.5 overs: England 359-4 (Moeen 46, Morgan 17) Well that was emphatic.
44th over: England 350-4 (Moeen 45, Morgan 9) Moeen hurries England towards victory. He lashes successive boundaries off Shaheen Afridi before pinging another six over deep backward square. England need nine from six overs. They’re chasing 359.
43rd over: England 334-4 (Moeen 30, Morgan 8) Every England player has hit at least one six in this innings. Morgan gets his first with a sweet pull behind square off Faheem. The shot was accompanied by the familiar Eoin Morgan six-face, when he grimaces slightly at the point of impact.
42nd over: England 325-4 (Moeen 29, Morgan 0)
Ben Stokes is run out backing up. Moeen smashed a straight drive back at Shaheen, who deflected it onto the stumps with his right foot. Stokes walks off smiling, knowing there was nothing much anyone could have done about that.
41st over: England 323-3 (Stokes 37, Moeen 28) A front foot no-ball from Faheem gives Stokes a free hit – and he launches it over midwicket for yet another six. The controlled savagery of this performance has been so impressive.
40th over: England 311-3 (Stokes 30, Moeen 24) Stokes squirts Junaid towards third man for a couple, the highlight of a rare boundaryless over.
39th over: England 308-3 (Stokes 27, Moeen 24) A stunning shot from Moeen, who punches Hasan Ali between extra cover and mid-off for four. It was in the air but he placed it perfectly. England need 51 from 66 balls.
“Hey Rob,” says Brendan Large. “In my day we didn’t slag England off for playing well...we just never assumed that would it continue for the entire match, or even the entire over.”
38th over: England 300-3 (Stokes 25, Moeen 18) Moeen Ali dumps Junaid over midwicket for six, the 12th of the innings, and then does it again two balls later. And why not? The over ends with another embarrassing dropped catch, this time from Babar Azam to reprieve Moeen. In his defence, he slipped as he ran towards the ball and was slightly off balance.
37th over: England 285-3 (Stokes 24, Moeen 5) “I know what Inderpal Sokhy (34th over) means, but that’s the England that had so many ways to lose - this one has so many ways to win,” says Gary Naylor. “That guarantees nothing - except that you enter every match as favourites and stay that way for most of them. Time to be confident I feel.”
This is the strongest World Cup field since at least 1999, so I doubt anyone thinks England are nailed on to win it. They are deserved favourites, no more or less. It might be coming home. But it might not!
36th over: England 284-3 (Stokes 23, Moeen 5) Moeen is dropped, a diving chance to Imad Wasim at extra cover off the bowling of Faheem. Most modern fielders would probably take that nine times out of 10. Moeen slashes four more to move England within 75 runs of a routine victory chasing 359 what the hell has happened to cricket.
“Dreams are free, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “It’s coming home.”
35th over: England 280-3 (Stokes 23, Moeen 1) The new hitter is Moeen Ali.
“I sympathise with Lord Gary Naylor that he is also now at that stage of his innings when ‘in my years of’ is a usable phrase,” says Ian Copestake. “Next step? In all my years...”
Joe Root spanks Imad Wasim straight to mid-off, where Babar Azam lets the side down by taking the catch with the minimum of fuss. Root made a perky 43 from 35 balls.
34th over: England 276-2 (Root 43, Stokes 22) Root shows he can play the lumberjack as well, smearing a short ball from Faheem down the ground for a one-bounce four. And Stokes reminds us that Root isn’t the only classical batsman in the England line-up with a delightful drive over long-on for six.
“Getting a bit carried away with it arent we,” says Inderpal Sokhy. “When Oz show up well see ig England are going to score 5oo or against Rabada Bumrah n Cummings. Its a balmy evening dont get too carried away. Eng are peaking way too early and all the runs have been scored n spent. The real test lies ahead against the best of the best.”
33rd over: England 264-2 (Root 38, Stokes 15) Root skips down the track to whap Imad Wasim back over his head for six. Beautiful shot. He has stealthily moved to 37 from only 31 balls.
“This English ODI team reminds me of the dominant South African team before the 2015 World Cup,” says Sandile Xaso. “Especially the batting lineup. Roy/Bairstow vs Amla/De Kock as the hyper-consistent, high-scoring opening pair. A solid, reliable no 3 (Root/Faf), a flexible middle order with power hitters that can score at different rates (Morgan/Stokes/Ali vs Duminy/Rossouw/Miller) all built around the generational talent of a galaxy-destroying batsman in his prime (Buttler vs De Villiers). I think Proteas had an edge in the bowling but England definitely has an advantage with the captaincy. Two great teams and maybe this England team can go a step further and justify its talent by winning it. Even if it doesn’t, it’s been so fun to watch the past four years.”
32nd over: England 254-2 (Root 30, Stokes 13) Stokes steals a quick single to mid-off, and is comfortably home before Imad Wasim’s throw hits the stump.
“I’m with you Rob,” writes
Avil Lavi- Chris Drew. “This is a different game - complementary to redball/Test/first class. It’s entertaining in its own way. But it needs a yin to its yang.”
31st over: England 251-2 (Root 29, Stokes 11) It will take a phenomenal effort for England to cock this up. I’m not even sure the 2014-15 England could cock this up. Root moves them four runs closer with a bread-and-butter flick to fine leg off Junaid Khan.
“Hi Rob,” says Chris Evans. “How many did England have after 30 overs when they got 481 against Australia?”
30th over: England 244-2 (Root 24, Stokes 9) Stokes, on 0, edges a good delivery from Shaheen right through the vacant first-slip area for four. The next ball brings another boundary, flicked confidently through midwicket. England need 115 from 120 balls.
“Rob,” says Felix Wood. “Received wisdom used to be take the score at thirty overs and double it. With recent developments and teams hitting out in the last ten overs this became a bit conservative. Now England are doing this, and you have to wonder what would happen if they didn’t have to stop (hubris alert) after getting 358. Anyway, my question is: should Jason Roy open in Tests?”
29th over: England 234-2 (Root 23, Stokes 0) Ben Stokes, who hasn’t batted so far in this series, has been promoted to No4.
Jonny Bairstow’s storming innings is over. He drags a pull back onto the stumps and smashes the stumps in frustration. He almost sent one of the stumps for six. I suspect he had an eye on Jason Roy’s England ODI record of 180. Bairstow has to settle for a bloodthirsty 128 from 93 balls, with 15 fours and five sixes. It was a pleasure to watch.
28th over: England 229-1 (Bairstow 124, Root 22) “If I’m reading it right, at the halfway mark, England were 53 runs ahead on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern chasing359,” says Gary Naylor. “If the stars align one day, they’ll get 500 for sure.”
Agreed. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they did it during the World Cup.
27th over: England 224-1 (Bairstow 120, Root 21) Root reminds us there is more than one way to skin a bowling attack, flicking Hasan Ali classically through midwicket for four. He has quietly raced to 21 from 21 balls, and England need 135 from 23 overs.
“‘Is this even cricket? If so. I am in,’” says John Jones, quoting my earlier comment. “No, it’s not cricket Rob and I am out.”
26th over: England 217-1 (Bairstow 119, Root 15) Another beastly blow from Bairstow, who lifts Haris Sohail miles over wide long-on for his fourth six. The ball is lost, so there’s a delay of around three minutes while they bring out a replacement. Bairstow then drives the next delivery, the first with the replacement ball, straight back over the bowler’s head for another six. That was a gorgeous shot.
25th over: England 201-1 (Bairstow 106, Root 13) Bairstow creams Hasan Ali’s first ball straight back over his head for four, a shot of blistering contempt. He survives an LBW appeal next ball – it was missing leg – and then digs out a beautiful yorker. Hasan Ali has got the ball reversing, which might give Pakistan a chance. Bairstow and Hasan Ali have words at the end of the over, though I’m not sure what it was about.
24th over: England 194-1 (Bairstow 100, Root 11) That’ll do. Jonny Bairstow reaches his seventh ODI hundred with a single off the new bowler Haris Sohail. It’s been a spectacular innings: 74 balls, 12 fours, three sixes and not a single bit of nonsense.
23rd over: England 190-1 (Bairstow 98, Root 10) If England win, they will equal the fifth-highest run-chase in ODI history.
One thousand, three hundred and forty six days since England lost an ODI at home while chasing. Not gonna change against a team that fields like Pakistan have today. Too good a batting unit to be given so many chances.
22nd over: England 187-1 (Bairstow 96, Root 9) A full ball from Faheem is larruped over mid-off for four by Bairstow, who is four away from a storming hundred.
“Hi Rob,” says Avitaj Mitra. “Considering the outfield, short boundaries and the strength of the English batting line-up.. on a scale of 1-10, how thankless of a task is it for the Pakistani bowlers?”
21st over: England 181-1 (Bairstow 92, Root 8) Bairstow top-edges a slog sweep off Imad and is lucky to see the ball fly over the head of short fine leg. Root then gets his first boundary with an impertient reverse lap past Sarfaraz’s right shoulder.
“Is Joe Root now under pressure not to be Joe Root?” says Ian Copestake. “It must be tough knowing most people/teammates are worried he is taking up Jos’s overs.”
20th over: England 172-1 (Bairstow 87, Root 3) Bairstow is dropped by Faheem off his own bowling. It was a sharp, one-handed chance above his head when Bairstow clubbed the ball back at him, and he couldn’t hang on.
“Isn’t it wonderful how sport keeps evolving?” says Simon McMahon. “Remember when 60-1 after 15 overs was considered a fast start in ODIs? Maybe one day, when teams are routinely scoring 600, we’ll look back and say the same about 137-0.”
19th over: England 168-1 (Bairstow 86, Root 2) Bairstow scored a staggering six ODI hundreds between September 2017 and June 2018. He’s had none since then, so he’ll be especially keen to convert today. He looks in spectacular touch on the eve of the World Cup.
18th over: England 165-1 (Bairstow 84, Root 1) Jonny Bairstow has scored 98 per cent of his runs on the leg side today.
“I cannot recall a time in my 40+ years of watching cricket when the rest of the world need to respond to England’s innovation,” says Gary Naylor. “But that’s the case with the weight of shot England relentlessly exert on the ball, regardless of the scoreboard, conditions or bowling. That’s the result of selection and practice of course, but more a change in attitude. The World Cup may just be coming at the perfect time, as surely other teams will seek to do the same thing very soon.”
That’s very good bowling from Faheem Ashraf. He knew Roy wanted to make room so followed him with a short ball, and Roy slapped a cut stroke straight to cover. Roy goes for a scorching 76 from 55 balls.
17th over: England 153-0 (Roy 72, Bairstow 78) Bairstow pulls Shaheen Afridi towards deep square leg, where Asif Ali makes a brilliant diving stop - and then drops the ball behind him for four as he shapes to throw it in to the wicketkeeper. That brings up a barbaric 150 partnership from just 16.2 overs.
16th over: England 145-0 (Roy 70, Bairstow 72) Bairstow pings Faheem high into the leg side, where the ball falls short of Imam at deep midwicket.
For the first time in the fourth over, Pakistan get through six deliveries without being pumped to the boundary. A good over from Faheem is tarnished when Bairstow belabours the last ball down the ground for four. That’s drinks.
“Hi Rob,” says Pete Salmon. “Back at the proper cricket, Haseeb out for 7, so in my book whatever nonsense happens in Bristol this is a tragic day for England.”
15th over: England 137-0 (Roy 70, Bairstow 64) Shaheen Afridi returns to the attack and disappears for another 20 runs. Is this even cricket? Whatever it is, I’m in.
Bairstow muscles a pull for four to reach a merciless half-century from only 36 balls. Of the 122 openers to score 1,000 runs in ODI cricket, Bairstow has the highest strike-rate. You might be able to guess who is second on the list.
14th over: England 117-0 (Roy 65, Bairstow 49) Jason Roy likes to have a look at the bowlers. He smeared Imad Wasim’s first ball of the match for six and he’s just done the same to Faheem Ashraf. He almost falls later in the over, driving a fraction short of Haris Sohail in the covers, and then he slaughters another pull stroke well in front of square for four. This is devastating stuff. If England weren’t favourites at the start of the innings, they are now. The over ends with Roy surviving a dodgy single into the leg side; it would have been very tight with a direct hit.
“Rob,” says Lee Calvert. “For a number of reasons I’ve not watched cricket properly since c2007 and my mind has wandered to the World Cup of that year. This England side look decent but they would surely benefit from a Paul Nixon or Jamie Dalrymple figure?”
13th over: England 106-0 (Roy 53, Bairstow 49) This is an orgy of run-scoring. Bairstow rocks back to muscle Imad through midwicket for four and then sweeps a mighty six to bring up the hundred partnership. England have scored 80 from the last eight overs.
“Putting a foot out to stop a Jason Roy drive - I mad indeed,” says Gary Naylor. “I’ll get my coat...”
12th over: England 92-0 (Roy 52, Bairstow 37) Jason Roy hurries to a 40-ball half-century with two more fours off Hasan Ali - a savage cut stroke followed by a genteel steer to third man. England are flying.
“Hi Rob,” says Luke Dealtry. “I know this is premature but wondering about whether the next two months (exactly, until the WC final) is the last we’ll see of some of these guys in an England shirt - especially considering there is money elsewhere now. Morgan is the obvious one - he’s 32. But Moeen and Rashid are both 31. I could see them going on for a while, but to the next WC? Also Joe Root and YJB are nearing 30. Isn’t that the kind of age Test players start to think maybe the ODIs aren’t really worth it anymore?”
11th over: England 80-0 (Roy 42, Bairstow 36) Roy charges down the track to swing Imad Wasim for a ginormous six over long on. That has the expected impact on Imad Wasim’s wick; he follows up with five dot balls, and has words with Roy after each delivery.
10th over: England 74-0 (Roy 36, Bairstow 36) This is lively stuff. Bairstow steers Hasan Ali for four, is beaten by a peach that somehow misses the off stump and then thumps another boundary down the ground.
9th over: England 64-0 (Roy 35, Bairstow 27) Imad is fine to continue.
8.5 overs: England 63-0 (Roy 35, Bairstow 26) The left-arm spinner Imad Wasim comes into the attack. Jason Roy creams his first delivery down the ground for six; apparently this is socially acceptable behaviour in 2019. Poor Imad wears another Roy blow on his left foot later in the over, prompting a break in play while he receives treatment.
8th over: England 54-0 (Roy 27, Bairstow 25) Shaheen Afridi has dropped a rare old sitter. Roy clunked Hasan Ali’s first ball of the match to mid-off, where Shaheen took the catch and then contrived to shovel the ball over his own shoulder. Roy applies some seasoning to the wound with a pull for four later in the over.
7th over: England 46-0 (Roy 21, Bairstow 24) I wonder whether the deselection (sic) of Alex Hales is a good or bad thing for this opening partnership. Having such a high-class reserve has surely driven them to such great heights in the last 20 months, but there are also advantages in being able to relax in the knowledge that your place is secure. Bairstow certainly looks relaxed right now - he flick-pulls Junaid for a majestic six. Junaid, despite bowling pretty well, has figures of 4-0-26-0. This is the modern way.
“Rob,” says John Starbuck. “I’ve been doing off now and again to look at the webcam services some grounds have, wondering if you or a colleague could do an article on them? Trent Bridge is my usual, where they now have two cameras and have also mastered the art of switching between the two, whereas at Edgbaston you can see the workings. They don’t appear to have synchronous commentary from local BBC Radio either, as Notts. have. Not quite synchronous sometimes; the pictures lag behind so when the commentary contains a wicket, you are alerted to look at the picture very carefully. I understand the Oval is pretty good too, so is it time to do a comparison survey, if only to help the weaker grounds get better?”
6th over: England 36-0 (Roy 19, Bairstow 16) In lieu of any loose bowling, Roy decides to make some room himself. He dances outside leg stump and spanks Shaheen for a huge straight six. He almost falls later in the over, spooning a lovely slower ball just past the diving Shaheen.
5th over: England 26-0 (Roy 11, Bairstow 14) Pakistan are giving England’s right-handers no room to free their arms and flex their bulging biceps. The downside of that is the occasional delivery that’s too straight; Bairstow punishes Junaid with another flick for four off the last ball of an otherwise excellent over.
“My gut feeling is that an English debacle is in the offing,” says Dave Langlois. “That middle order of post-Bristol Stokes (just never been the same has he?) and flaky, fluky Moeen looks very light and liable to usher in a late-order collapse if the openers don’t come off. Let’s see.”
4th over: England 19-0 (Roy 10, Bairstow 9) Pakistan are rightly hunting wickets (see email below), and Shaheen beats Roy twice in his second over. The first was a beauty that turned Roy round completely.
“I think to beat England when they’re batting second, you have to bowl them out,” says Phil Harrison. “Simple as that. However many they’re chasing, giving the depth and ferocious nature of their batting, if they’re still batting at 49.5 overs, they win. That’s pretty crazy in itself, right?”
3rd over: England 17-0 (Roy 9, Bairstow 8) It’s been an eventful start. Bairstow gets off the mark with a wristy flick through square leg for four off Junaid. Later in the over, he miscues an attempted pull that lands just short of Shaheen Afridi at short fine leg, but the final ball is a piece of filth that Bairstow works off the hip for four more.
“Dear Rob,” says Jonathan Wood. “I had understood that this series was meant to be Jordan and Archer’s chance to prove they should be in the World Cup squad, so am a little confused as to why neither played in Southampton or today. Do you think our bowling line-up lacks a little star quality, or is it just because of the motorways they’re being asked to bowl on?”
2nd over: England 9-0 (Roy 9, Bairstow 0) The fiercely exciting teenager Shaheen Afridi, another left-armer, shares the new ball. He also finds an excellent, tight line from over the wicket, and Roy is a bit fortunate to get away with an impatient hack across the line that he drags onto the pad. He plays another false stroke from the next ball, under-edging an attempt cut wide of the diving Sarfaraz for four, and then nails an emphatic extra-cover drive to the boundary. That last shot was a peach, but this has been a fine start from Pakistan.
Here’s Phil Sawyer. “Oh, you and Gary have a.....but I always thought one day I’d.... with either one of you, quite frankly, I’m not fussy...... well, I’m very happy for you. I’m just off to cry in a corner.”
1st over: England 1-0 (Roy 1, Bairstow 0) The lively left-armer Junaid Khan, back in the side today, will take the new ball. His second ball jags back to hit Roy high on the pads, prompting an optimistic and unsuccessful LBW appeal. It’s an excellent first over from Junaid, with a really tight line from over the wicket.
And that’s enough of this international cricket nonsense, because Haseeb Hameed is batting.
The players are back out on the field after a short break. It’s probably safe to assert that, one way or another, the next hour will not be dull.
“It’s crazy, but am alone in thinking that England might be favourites from here?” says Gary Naylor. “And if Jos were playing, then I’d have no doubts.”
Gary, when I saw an email from you beginning with the words ‘It’s crazy’, I thought one of us was finally going to acknowledge what we both know has been burning inside for 12 years. (And yes, I agree.)
Thanks Simon, hello everyone. It’s been a humbling afternoon for England. Their bowlers were smacked to all parts, they were powerless to stop Imam-ul-Haq making a mighty 151 … and it should surprise nobody if they still win this game.
Such is the nature of modern ODI cricket, where bowlers are the equivalent of goalkeepers in a penalty shoot-out – but where the goalkeeper is berated for every penalty he doesn’t save rather than celebrated for the ones he does stop.
Right then, I will hand the baton to Rob Smyth, who will take you through England’s response. It’s a big target, sure enough, but with short boundaries and a lightning outfield I think it’s achievable, even in a Buttler-free world. Time, and indeed Rob, will tell. Send all email action his way here, if you could. Bye!
50th over: Pakistan 358-9 (Hassan 18, Junaid 0) Shaheen thunders the first ball of the over down the ground for six, but then is out next ball. There’s still time for Hassan Ali to continue his superlative late cameo, flicking one to long leg for four, and then hoisting another to cow corner for six! That 18* is his third-highest ODI score, in his 47th match, but it was really very classy.
And so the gauntlet is thrown. If England win this it would be their second-highest successful run chase of all time, and the joint No6 in the global all-time list.
That’s a fabulous catch from Willey! Shaheen hits the ball into his own hip and thence into the air, but Willey has to sprint way to his right and then dive to take a one-handed beauty at full stretch!
49th over: Pakistan 342-8 (Hassan 8, Shaheen 1) A fantastic over is ruined when Hassan Ali smears the final delivery over long-on for six! That’s a great hit!
Good call from Bairstow there! That clipped the batsman’s toe before disappearing to third man, but the umpire thought the contact was with his bat. Ball tracking confirmed that it was stump-bound, and that’s eight down!
The umpire thinks not, the English think so ...
48th over: Pakistan 333-7 (Faheem 11, Hassan 2) Plunkett bowls, there’s a wide (well, a high) and some singles, and England will be very happy with how the last few overs have panned out. “So, is Denly’s ODI career already over?” wonders Billy Mills. It does seem extremely curious to bring him in and then give him a single over.
47th over: Pakistan 327-7 (Faheem 8, Hassan 0) A boundary-wicket-boundary mid-over triple-whammy keeps everyone on their toes. Imad beautifully bisects mid-off and extra cover for four, fatally miscues a short ball, and then Faheem spears one backward of square.
Another one! Imad top-edges a pull and Woakes strolls around to short midwicket to collect the catch!
46th over: Pakistan 317-6 (Imad 18, Faheem 2) That is precisely the tonic England needed. Imam’s was the eighth highest ODI score against England and then Imad gently reminds them not to relax, by absolutely belting one down the ground with maximal ferocity.
There will be no more milestones! Imam shuffles backwards to give himself some swinging space, but then can’t reach Curran’s yorker as it heads towards off stump!
45th over: Pakistan 310-5 (Imam-ul-Haq 151, Imad 13) It was with the ball in the final overs that England won Saturday’s ODI, so these are interesting times. Imam reaches another milestone, and then Woakes bowls short, and Imad heaves over backward point for four.
44th over: Pakistan 301-5 (Imam-ul-Haq 148, Imad 7) Willey bowls towards leg stump, and Imam flicks to fine leg. Jordan sprints round and dives to stop it just before the rope but ... doesn’t. Then Imad takes a wild heave, gets a thick leading edge but the ball lands safe.
43rd over: Pakistan 289-5 (Imam-ul-Haq 142, Imad 1) Woakes starts his over with a wide, high and almost totally useless full toss, which Imam thumps away for four, but the over improves from there.
A wicket for England! Woakes cramps Asif Ali, who scoops the ball up off the top edge, and Roy at mid-off back-pedals before taking a high catch!
42nd over: Pakistan 282-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 136, Asif 52) Imam drops the ball dead and sets off for a run. As the last time Pakistan tried something similar, it ends with an England player, Bairstow in this case, sidefooting into the stumps and appealing for a run-out. This time Asif is a safe by six inches. A decent over, given that it contains two wides.
41st over: Pakistan 274-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 132, Asif 50) Cowabunga! Another hefty six from Asif, who lifts the ball over midwicket, which means a single off the last ball of the over completes a 38-ball 50!
40th over: Pakistan 264-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 130, Asif 42) Curran gets his line wrong, and with fine leg up it’s too easy for Imam to tickle that for four. Then Asif Ali hits the ball extraordinarily hard over long-on and into the boxes at the back of the stand! Ten overs remain, and with a fair wind Pakistan will be eyeing a total not far short of 400.
39th over: Pakistan 250-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 124, Asif 34) After losing two wickets in the first five overs Pakistan have played this very nicely. Imam has obviously been impeccable, but he’s taking regular risks now: he miscues Woakes into the air but safe, and then drives straight to the fielder at mid-off, the ball landing a yard or so short.
38th over: Pakistan 245-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 120, Asif 33) Asif smashes Curran through midwicket for four. Later, Imam totally mistimes a shot, which at least gives the bowlers some hope. Then Asif hits to Jason Roy at point and Imam gets two-thirds of the way down the pitch before being sent back. A direct hit would have done the job there, but it was not forthcoming!
“OK, who was the last man in glasses to make 100 in an ODI in England?” wonders Gary Naylor. “Big Clive in the World Cup Final of 1975, but there must have been a Zaheer one in between and maybe some more. I don’t know.” We’ve already had one response. Any more?
Zaheer made 103* vz NZ at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup
37th over: Pakistan 235-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 119, Asif 25) Imam is going big here! He schmeisses over long-on and into the stands for the biggest six of the day, blows Willey a kiss by way of thanks, and then flicks fine for four!
36th over: Pakistan 219-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 106, Asif 24) Imam-ul-Haq is making people happy. Here he flays Curran over cover for four, and then Asif hoists over mid-on for four more!
Brilliant innings from Imam-ul-Haq. Easily the best of his career. 100plus strike-rate and didn’t succumb under the pressure of two early wickets. #EngvPak
Bats in glasses, wears black under-armour, uses a CA bat, threads shots through gaps you didn't realise were there. Would probably rock up to a club game minutes before it's due to start in full whites.
Any space on the Imam-ul-Haq bandwagon? #EngvPak
35th over: Pakistan 209-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 100, Asif 19) Willey returns, and after an Asif single Imam is on strike, and on 99. Two ball later he flicks the ball into the leg side and that’s the run he needs!
34th over: Pakistan 207-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 99, Asif 18) Plunkett bowls short, Imam commits to the pull, and gets nothing on it whatsoever. He hasn’t missed much today. Then another shortish ball is bowled across him, and this one he just helps on its way down to deep fine leg for four.
33rd over: Pakistan 199-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 94, Asif 15) Six! Asif takes a couple of steps and hits the first maximum of the day, hoisting Moeen down the ground and a couple of yards over the rope!
32nd over: Pakistan 191-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 93, Asif 8) Plunkett continues and it’s a decent over, three singles from it.
31st over: Pakistan 188-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 92, Asif 6) One over, and Denly’s off again. Moeen replaces him. After a few singles Imam goes for a risky second off the last, and really someone should have been run out there. Sadly the throw to the bowler’s end was about three yards wide of the mark.
30th over: Pakistan 183-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 89, Asif 4) Plunkett bangs one in short, and though Imam doesn’t catch it quite right, on this outfield it doesn’t much matter. Then the leg glance, and Moeen runs round before attempting not to put a hand on it, but to sliding tackle it, with his foot. He misses.
29th over: Pakistan 174-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 81, Asif 3) Time, finally, for Joe Denly. It’s only the second time he has bowled in an ODI, having had something of a late-career blossoming as a bowler. His first over includes two early full-tosses, the second of them thumped disdainfully for four by Imam.
28th over: Pakistan 165-4 (Imam-ul-Haq 74, Asif 1) Sarfaraz was almost run out off the second ball of the over, diving to make his ground as the ball was returned to Bairstow with unexpected speed and accuracy. He celebrated that let-off by swishing across the line and scooping the next ball into the sky.
A breakthrough for England! Sarfaraz tries to hit over midwicket but instead clips it high into the air. Of all people, after a bit of swirling about in the Bristol breeze, it drops to Jordan, who doesn’t miss those (or others)!
27th over: Pakistan 160-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 73, Sarfaraz 25) Moeen returns. Four singles off the over. “Delighted that Bristol is on the One Day list again,” writes Andrew Benton, “but appalled at the damage the huge tall lights do to the city skyline - four fixed carbuncles towering over dear old Bishopston.” Looking at them I’d have thought, this of course based upon absolutely zero knowledge of anything remotely relevant, that near-identical floodlights that extend upwards on matchday and sit lower when not in use could pretty easily have been engineered.
26th over: Pakistan 156-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 71, Sarfaraz 23) Imam scythes the ball away for four, and then tucks one off his hip for four more. With a wide and a bit of running about added in, it’s a pricey over from Stokes, who seems to be toiling a bit.
25th over: Pakistan 142-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 59, Sarfaraz 22) Another quietish over ends with Sarfaraz spotting Curran’s slower ball and heaving it down the ground, just past the diving fielder at mid-on and away for four.
24th over: Pakistan 135-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 57, Sarfaraz 17) Root collects the ball at midwicket and, with the batsmen running, sends the ball at speed to the bowler’s end. It’s a direct hit, but Sarfaraz is safely home. More good feeling next ball, from Willey at deep midwicket, turns four into two. And then some less good fielding, as the ball is returned to Bairstow’s toes, he doesn’t collect and Pakistan steal a single as it bounces off his pads. Here’s some news from the Pakistan camp. “Shadabba-dabba-do,” says Mike Atherton as they discuss it on Sky.
Wrist spinner @76Shadabkhan declared fit for World Cup
More https://t.co/C88UzQvoC8pic.twitter.com/3RyZWIKm2y
23rd over: Pakistan 128-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 52, Sarfaraz 16) A loud lbw shout as Curran whips the ball into Sarafaraz’s pads, but it was going down leg and everybody knew it. Thereafter Pakistan seem happy to nurdle the occasional single.
22nd over: Pakistan 124-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 50, Sarfaraz 14) Imam completes his half century, off 55 balls with only four boundaries. The timing rating? Well, it’s “the ratio of a player’s contact average with the shot average; multiplied by 100. These figures are aggregated across all shots played by the batsman to produce an overall timing rating.” There you go. Nothing to it. CricViz assures me that it is “a more advanced measure for evaluating batting contact quality than false shot percentage”. See here.
@Simon_Burnton What in the name of God is (see over 15) a Timing Rating? Are we able to calculate such things ourselves? Do we need to? Would we want to?
21st over: Pakistan 118-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 46, Sarfaraz 12) Curran continues, and Sarfaraz tickles the ball to the third man boundary, very nicely done.
20th over: Pakistan 112-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 45, Sarfaraz 7) Ben Stokes has a bowl, and his first delivery is wide and a bit short. Imam tries to slap it past point but bottom-edges, but gets four for it anyway.
19th over: Pakistan 104-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 39, Sarfaraz 5) Still no sign of Denly, who is supposed to spin his way into/out of the World Cup squad today. Still, there’s time for that I suppose. Curran does a second over.
18th over: Pakistan 100-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 38, Sarfaraz 2) Four singles and a wide take Pakistan into triple figures.
Nifty footwork, Mr Curran!
The England seamer uses his boot to run out Haris Sohail for 41.
Watch #ENGvPAK live: https://t.co/YquUHFYz9C
Live blog: https://t.co/ufLYOI2NB0pic.twitter.com/McwCUDxGKL
17th over: Pakistan 95-3 (Imam-ul-Haq 36, Sarfaraz 0) The extraordinary thing about the wicket is that Curran’s initial reaction is to stop, while Haris just runs. And Curran has time to do so, then start up again, and still beat the ambling Haris, who had looked in such fine nick, to the ball.
“I also noticed how quick the outfield is, but they all seem to be so these days, luscious green or not,” writes Gary Naylor. “I’m convinced that ‘fast’ pitches have improved the quality of football and I suspect fast outfields have also lifted scores and fielding standards in cricket.” Wouldn’t argue with that.
That’s a big wicket for England, and gifted to them by Pakistan! Imam drops the ball dead and goes for the run; Curran continues his follow-through and sidefoots the ball into the stumps; Haris doesn’t seem keen on sprinting, and certainly isn’t interested in diving, and is thus a foot or so short!
16th over: Pakistan 93-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 35, Haris 40) Plunkett, like Willey earlier, is being exhorted to “drag his length back a little” on Sky. And I do believe he does so as well. Five off the over.
15th over: Pakistan 88-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 31, Haris 39) This is entirely true: Haris Sohail is looking in the finest of fettles. His seventh boundary is super, lifting the ball over cover for four.
Haris Sohail is in glorious nick. He's recorded a Timing Rating of 444 today, the best he's ever managed in an ODI match. Pakistan need him to make it count, but he looks well set. #ENGvPAK
14th over: Pakistan 81-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 29, Haris 34) Haris flicks the ball off his ankles, and it screams to the long leg boundary. Then a cover drive, also for four. This is a lightning outfield, and I’d pity the side that has to defend a smallish total on it.
13th over: Pakistan 70-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 27, Haris 25) More sober scoring off Moeen, three singles off the over.
12th over: Pakistan 67-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 25, Haris 24) A second bowling change sees Liam Plunkett enter the fray, and he might have had a wicket in his first over! Haris gloves the ball behind but Bairstow, diving to his right, doesn’t catch it, the ball bouncing off his wrist and into the ground. That was a sharp chance, but certainly catchable. The umpires send it upstairs just to be sure, but it clearly bounced.
11th over: Pakistan 64-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 23, Haris 23) Interestingly poised, this, and at the end of the powerplay England make their first bowling change: Moeen Ali has a go.
10th over: Pakistan 59-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 21, Haris 20) Haris Sohail cracks the first ball of the over past extra cover for four, and then the third past cover with the same outcome. Two strokes that sounded as good as they looked.
9th over: Pakistan 49-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 20, Haris 11) Woakes’ final delivery is lovely, slanted across Imam, who pushes at it and misses, eliciting oohs from the crowd. Again, just the single off the over.
8th over: Pakistan 48-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 20, Haris 10) After a couple each with two fours, a calmer over. Willey the bowler, just a single off it.
7th over: Pakistan 47-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 20, Haris 9) Haris gets off the mark in style, pushing the ball past point. Nicely timed, but there’s very little power on the shot. No matter, as the ball speeds away all the same. Then he does it again, only with more power this time, and that one disappears too!
That's a beauty @chriswoakes!
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/3SyUtu2DWQ#EngvPakpic.twitter.com/EuSflVNejA
6th over: Pakistan 38-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 20, Haris 0) Willey stops swinging, and Imam starts: one ball is sent rocketing through the covers, and another to long-off.
That was a superb delivery from Chris Woakes to remove Babar Azam. It didn't swing particularly (just 0.1°), but it seamed significantly (0.7°) back into the Pakistan batsman. Classic new ball bowling - and a great sign for England ahead of the World Cup. #ENGvPAK
5th over: Pakistan 27-2 (Imam-ul-Haq 10, Haris 0) Woakes goes short and Babar flays it away for four, a lovely shot. And then a real rarity: a Ben Stokes misfield! Babar tucks the ball to midwicket where Stokes dives over it. He springs to his feet and gives chase, but can’t catch it. Having hit consecutive boundaries Babar is out next ball, a beauty that moves into the batsman, beats him for pace and takes out off stump.
Lovely from Woakes, who takes out Babar Azam’s off stump!
4th over: Pakistan 19-1 (Imam-ul-Haq 10, Babar 7) Willey bowls straight at Imam but the ball fades away from the batsman, who completely misses it. Tasty. Then Babar pushes one dead straight, with very little force, and it rumbles away for four.
3rd over: Pakistan 12-1 (Imam-ul-Haq 9, Babar 1) Just the single from Woakes’ second over. Still two slips, with the short straight boundaries likely to encourage potentially risky driving.
2nd over: Pakistan 11-1 (Imam-ul-Haq 9, Babar 0) A soupçon of swing for Willey, who gets the ball gently curling away from the left-handed Imam. The batsman hits one past a diving mid-on for four, and leaves the rest.
1st over: Pakistan 7-1 (Imam-ul-Haq 5) Woakes’ first delivery has Imam fending and edging, but the ball flies wide of second slip for four. Fakhar later gets off the mark with a handsome if not quite perfectly timed cover drive. “That’s the shot of a man in form,” exclaims David Lloyd on Sky. He’s out next ball.
What was a good first over for Pakistan ends as a great one for England as Fakhar Zaman edges the final ball straight to Root, who takes it at the second attempt!
Out come the players! It’s an absolutely glorious afternoon in Bristol. Cricket incoming!
If any of you are eagerly monitoring your inboxes in anticipation of this week’s Spin, you may be waiting a while: it’ll be out tomorrow. If you’ve got no idea what the Spin is, sign up here.
A couple of David Willey-related stats courtesy of CricViz:
The battle to take the new ball in the World Cup continues today. One thing that David Willey has in his favour is that, among all the potential seamers England could select, he's the one who has consistently swung the new ball the most. #ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/BEY9iRgFMy
Also on his side is a surprisingly excellent record at the death. We might imagine an elite death bowler as being extremely quick (like Archer), or capable of bowling many variations (like Curran) - but Willey has been the most economical death option in recent times. #ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/XYMpGhkqkr
So the teams in full:
England Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan (capt), Joe Denly, Tom Curran, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Liam Plunkett.
England will also reshuffle the batting order, promoting Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali to give them a bit of time in the middle.
We will bowl first!
Follow: https://t.co/jJqgtSpPiD#EngvPakpic.twitter.com/jzBo8TYSV8
Sarfaraz Ahmed says that he too would have chosen to bowl first. Yasir Shah is out, Junaid Khan is in.
Eoin Morgan says:
It does look a really good wicket. Bristol is very short, particularly straight, and with the wind it might be hard to defend later on. Hopefully we can restrict Pakistan to a reasonable total.
And so, we go again. After Saturday’s runfest in Southampton comes, well, probably another runfest at the County Ground in Bristol, with its short boundaries at both ends. There will be changes to both teams, with Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler, England’s most box-office bowler and batsman at the moment, both considered unlikely to play, while Joe Denly will be given a chance to bowl, a potentially do-or-die occasion for the 33-year-old’s World Cup ambitions. In other important news, the forecast is for sun, and plenty of it. Here’s Vic Marks’ preview:
Related: England set to ring changes and rest Jos Buttler for third Pakistan ODI
There is also plenty going on in the County Championship today! Keep an eye on it here:
Related: County Championship: Somerset v Surrey and more – live!
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