3rd ODI: England easily overcome sloppy Pakistan to go 2-1 up

Published
18

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.

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