Twitter Rections: Jos Buttler's whirlwind ton makes the difference in a high-scoring thriller

England won by a slender 12-run margin, but the game managed to entertain the Rose Bowl crowd profusely.

By Anuraag Peesara

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6 Min Read

Jos Buttler
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Jos Buttler. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Not often you see Pakistan getting involved in an ODI encounter where over 750 runs were scored, but England managed to take their bowlers to the cleaners and saw Pakistan almost chase down a mammoth 374-run target. It was a splendid effort from both sides, but eventually, it was the hosts who took a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series.

Batting first, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy gave England a sensational start. The duo batted just the way usually do and added 115 runs for the opening wicket with both of them getting fifties. Bairstow was the first to depart as he finished his innings after scoring 51. Roy continued the onslaught with Root as he stitched another 50-run stand.

Roy fell 13 short of a well-deserved hundred, but then came the show which literally stole the match for England. Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler came together after a struggling Joe Root got dismissed for 40 off 54 balls. Morgan and Buttler started off a bit cautiously, but as the innings approached the 40th over mark, they started tormenting the Pakistani bowlers.

The final 10 overs of this innings saw why Jos Buttler is one of the finest batsmen right now, who completed one of the fastest fifties in English ODI history off just 50 balls. Eoin Morgan remained unbeaten on 71 as the duo added 162 runs for the fourth wicket. England posted 373 runs for the loss of three wickets after 50 overs and it needed a herculean effort from Pakistan to overhaul it.

Fakhar Zaman keeps Pakistani alive

Perhaps the one cricketer who has the ability to make Pakistan score over 350 on regular intervals is Fakhar Zaman. After adding a 92-run partnership with Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar and Babar Azam steered Pakistan on the right track towards the run chase.

Their partnership ensured the required rate was under control all the time. Fakhar Zaman completed a century in no time as Pakistan looked threatening to complete their highest run-chase in ODI history. Yet, the English bowlers stepped at the right time, picking the wickets of Zaman and Azam in a span of 10 runs.

Pakistan still needed over 140 runs to win after they both succumbed and Asif Ali took this opportunity brilliantly to make his mark. He registered a fifty but fell almost immediately after reaching the landmark. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed remained unbeaten on 41 off 32 balls, but couldn’t help his side get over the line. England went home by a slender 12-run margin, but the game managed to entertain the Rose Bowl crowd profusely.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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