ENG v PAK, 3rd ODI Review: England seal series in a record-breaking ODI

The 3^rd ODI was a day of anguish for Pakistan. They conceded whopping 444 runs bowling first and then folded up for just 275 to hand England a rather simple 169 run win.

The Brits made a complete mockery of the Men in Green at Trent Bridge, Nottingham to pocket yet another ODI series. In an act of butchery, the Englishmen spared none. No Pakistan bowler had an easy day. The worst of them was Wahab Riaz who was smashed for a whopping 110 runs. The others also can choose to forget this game as a nightmare. Fielding added to the misery.

Alex Hales struck a record-breaking century, Joe Root struck yet another masterful half-century, Eoin Morgan, and Jos Buttler went on a rampage in the final overs to take England to the highest team total in ODIs.

The visitors. in reply, floundered badly. They threw away wickets at regular intervals and ended for just 275 before getting all out in 42.4 overs.

Pakistan would have certainly ended with a much worse score had Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah not put up a stunning last wicket stand. The Pakistani fans, who were left dejected for the whole day, finally got something to cheer when Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah began counter-attacking England bowlers with some fluent strokes. The pair added 71 runs for the last wicket and somehow managed to delay the win for the England team.

The last ODI at Trent Bridge was a tie. Liam Plunkett’s six helped England escape on the last ball. It was a close shave for England, of course, they wanted to put up a commendable performance and they did it the most memorable way possible.

The day itself began on a bad note for Pakistan. Imad Wasim, who struck a fifty last game, was ruled out due to a blow to the knee. And, if things weren’t already tough enough for Pakistan, England had Ben Stokes fit and ready to play again today.

Eoin Morgan won the toss on a track which looked like a typical batting friendly wicket where batsmen would have loved to gorge runs batting under the sweet sunshine.

England got off to a brisk start before Jason Roy departed. Joe Root combined with Hales and both began amassing runs without any fuss. Both added 248 runs for the second wicket to set the stage for the Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler to continue the rampage. Their attacking batting meant England raced past the 200 run mark inside 30 overs and 250 inside the next five overs.

If Alex Hales and Joe Root batted like big boys, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler behaved like complete bullies. Both took control of the situation and went hammer and tongs. While Morgan took a bit more time to get going, Buttler immediately drove into action.

Sixes and four began flying and the run rate soared up rapidly. Buttler batting form saw him threaten his own record for the fastest century. Morgan also caught up with him and displayed his hitting prowess. Both added an unbeaten 161 runs in 13 overs as England scorecard swelled to an unbelievable level.

Their batting took England past the 400 runs mark in the 47th over. This was only the 2nd time England had breached the 400 run mark. The previous occasion came against New Zealand in 2015.

For Pakistan, their batsman performed in the same way like their bowlers did earlier in the day. Opener Sami Islam and skipper Azhar Ali had a short stay at the crease and were dismissed cheaply. Chris Woakes was the beneficiary on both occasions.

But, despite these quick wickets, Sharjeel Khan ensured Pakistan went past the fifty runs mark inside the 8 overs. He took the responsibility and added a bit interest to the chase. Unfortunately, his time at the crease was cut short when Woakes struck again. His departure triggered a downfall.

Sarfraz Khan and Mohammad Nawaz tried to keep thing moving but not before Adil Rashid snapped them both. The lower middle order could not offer any resistance and the Pakistan innings looked as good as over before Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah came to the scene and joined together add 71 runs for the last wicket and reduce the losing margin considerably.

Brief Scores:

England 444/3 (Alex Hales 171; Hasan Ali 2/74)

Pakistan 275 in 42.4 overs (Sharjeel Khan 58; Chris Woakes 4/41)

Player of the match – Alex Hales

Watch: Mohammad Amir reaches his fifty with a six