It was another test of fire from which England emerged, in the final over, unscathed. It was their 17th successful run-chase in succession at home when they defeated Pakistan by three wickets, with three balls to spare, to go 3-0 up and the last game to come at Headingley.
England made it interesting by staging a collapse in the middle of their innings, losing four wickets for only 15 runs, but that gave them an opportunity to test their lower order and bring Ben Stokes back to form. Stokes has been muted since the infamous nightclub incident in Bristol, trying to be a dutiful team-man, but the old match-winner returned during his unbeaten 71 off 64 balls, just in time for the World Cup.
Splendidly as Stokes batted though in the run-chase, and Babar Azam in setting England a target of 341, the innings of the match was played by Jason Roy. He is taking his game to a new level before the grand tournament, and his 114 off only 89 balls not only overshadowed Azam’s more measured 112 off 115 balls but the shoot-out between Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to be acclaimed as England’s fastest bowler.
Even in this white-ball day and age, some of Roy’s batting is becoming sensational - and not least how he tends to strike a bowler’s first ball for six, notably Pakistan’s slow left-armer Imad Wasim. Roy played a scoop for six, but Jos Buttler can do that, so the breathtaking shot was the one that brought up his eighth ODI century, when he stepped back to an offbreak and yet, while falling away in his shot, still carved it over extra-cover for six.
Buttler did not have the best of days as Eoin Morgan’s replacement as captain, or as wicketkeeper when missing his second stumping of this series, and was then dismissed second ball when he went for the bold option of a sweep. That made two wickets in three balls, as Joe Root had been over-ambitious when England were ahead of the required run-rate and he should have been content to squirrel singles off Pakistan’s spinners.
As Roy had just been dismissed blamelessly, caught gloving down the legside, and Moeen Ali had a mow, England lurched to 216 for five, with plenty of scope for a demoralising defeat. But Stokes did what he longs to do - win games for England - and even though Pakistan finally bowled some yorkers, there was no stopping Stokes.
Archer and Wood, with their extra speed, were largely responsible for the 120 dot-balls in Pakistan’s innings: in effect the tourists did not score a run off 20 of their 50 overs. They are not going to open the bowling in the World Cup, because Chris Woakes maximises one of the new balls, but Morgan on returning from his one-match ban will have the option of injecting 90 mph pace at almost any stage of an opposition innings.
Archer bowled 31 dot-balls, either by zipping past the bat from short of a length or driving the batsman back in his first spell, or by varying his pace later on. Archer went past Asif Ali, when Pakistan’s biggest hitter was all ready to charge, with three balls in a row, two slower balls and a 92 mph yorker.
Wood bowled 28 dot-balls, one of which hit Imam ul-Haq on his left elbow and another hit Imad Wasim on his helmet. Imam’s uncle Inzamam would never have walked off after such a painful blow - he would have demanded a dozen bearers to bring him an old Moghul palanquin to carry him from the field in state - but Imam, after going to hospital, actually returned. Not many opening batsmen finish unbeaten on six but Imam did miss 44 overs.
After Imam’s injury, Archer and Wood rather overdid the short ball for the rest of their opening spells and, in straining for pace, omitted the slower ball which is an even more potent variation when the batsmen are pumping adrenalin. Wood produced a nice one later when Sarfaraz Ahmed, trying to cut, demolished his own stumps.
Babar Azam played the most cultivated innings of the day: tall and excellent off the back foot, he in particular enjoyed Archer and Wood when they pitched too short. But few Pakistan batsmen have specialised in quick singles - not since Javed Miandad and Asif Iqbal - and collectively they gave the impression that their chief concern was not squaring this series so much as cementing their World Cup places.
Both Archer and Wood emphasised their utility by taking fine outfield catches. Archer’s at deep cover removed Azam off the bowling of Tom Curran, who picked up four wickets before his decisive stand with Stokes, while Wood returned the favour for Archer. Pakistan’s fielding was comic at times but inspired enough to give them a chance when England faltered, in their characteristic blend of hot and cold.
Joe Denly kept his World Cup hopes alive with a steady little spell and a steady little innings, but all of England’s pace bowlers are raising their game, as fielders and batsmen as well as bowlers.
Total Users : 127677