With both the teams winning one match each to square the series so far, Pakistan and England will go head to head today in the third ODI in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
The men in green initiated the series with a solid win by six wickets, but England bounced back in the second ODI with a 95-run triumph. Both the teams are all set to give their best shot with aggressive practice sessions in process.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seamer Chris Woakes grabbed four wickets while James Tylor notched an unbeaten half century to anchor England’s six-wicket win over Pakistan in the third day-night international in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Woakes’s 4-40 skittled Pakistan out for a below-par 208 in 49.5 overs before Taylor scored 67 for his seventh fifty to help England to the target in 41 overs for a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.
Pakistan have one last chance to avoid their ninth series loss out of 11 in the United Arab Emirates (since 2009) when they play the final ODI in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan won the first match by six wickets while England won the second by 95 runs — both in Abu Dhabi.
England were outstanding in all three departments as they bundled Pakistan out on a flat pitch for a low total and then rode an unbroken 117-run stand for the fifth wicket between Taylor and Jos Buttler (49 not out).
Taylor smashed two boundaries off lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan and then clobbered a flat six to reach his fifty off 51 balls. In all he hit six boundaries and two sixes off 69 balls.
Buttler supplemented Taylor, hitting the winning six as the pair survived some anxious moments early on after Pakistan caught England at 93-4.
Irfan gave Pakistan an early breakthrough when he dismissed Jason Roy for seven while debutant left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar, included for the injured Yasir Shah, had Joe Root caught off a full toss for 11.
Alex Hales (30) and Eoin Morgan (35) added 60 for the third wicket before Gohar had the opener caught in the slips while Morgan was bowled by Shoaib Malik.
But Taylor and Buttler ensured no further loss and the victory, with Morgan full of praise for the pair after the successful chase.
“To perform like this is satisfying,” said Morgan. “The partnership between Taylor and Buttler was outstanding and it’s a magnificent win and we hope we go on and win the series.”
Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali blamed his team’s middle-innings collapse for the defeat.
See some image highlights from the thrid ODI here:
“We had a good start but we lost our way in the middle,” said Ali. “We were looking for 270-280 but run outs cost us and we were left 50 short.”
LATEST UPDATES
England beat Pakistan by six wickets in the third day-night international in Sharjah on Tuesday, taking an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the four-match series.
Pakistan were bowled out for 208 in 49.5 overs before England chased down the target in 41 overs at Sharjah stadium. James Taylor finished with 67 not out.
Pakistan were bowled out for 208 in 49.5 overs in the third day-night international against England in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Mohammad Hafeez top scored with 45 after Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat at Sharjah stadium. For England, paceman Chris Woakes took 4-40.
The four-match series is tied at 1-1.
Muhammad Rizwan Run out by Roy at 1. Pakistan at 138/5 at (32.2 ov)
Sarfaraz Ahmed catch out by CJ Jordan at 26 runs. Pakistan at 135/4 (30.3 ov)
Mohammad Hafeez bowled out by Root b Willey at 45. Pakistan at 132/3 (29.4 ov).
OUT! Mohammad Hafeez (45) c Root b Willey. Pakistan: 132/3 (29.4 ov). Live streaming… https://t.co/zkTcqKuq4M
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) November 17, 2015
Pakistan: 115/2 (25 ov). Live streaming https://t.co/JX3d2IPxBo #PAKvENG #DreamGreen — PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) November 17, 2015
Babar Azam bowled out by Woakes at 22 runs. Pakistan currently on 50/1 (12.1 overs)
Congratulations Zafar Gohar on ODI debut #PAKvENG #DreamGreen pic.twitter.com/bcHI4Y9uMY — PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) November 17, 2015
Pakistan Team won the toss and elected to bat first.
Team practice session before third ODI #PAKvENG #DreamGreen pic.twitter.com/yIau0yEWXC — PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) November 16, 2015
EPP wicket keepers @TJ_Moores_47 and @RyanDavies777 are training with England in Sharjah tonight #development pic.twitter.com/rftPWrD8TB — England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 16, 2015
Check out the match details here:
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Time: 3 p.m. local (11 a.m. GMT, 6 a.m. ET)
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates
Live Stream and TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), PTV (Pakistan), SuperSport (South Africa), Ten Sports (Bangladesh), NowTV (UK Streaming Service)
Squads
Pakistan
Azhar Ali (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Anwar Ali, Aamer Yamin, Yasir Shah, Zafar Gohar, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali, Bilal Asif, Iftikhar Ahmed.
England
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, James Taylor, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes.
Till then, take a look at second ODI’s highlights!