England wrapped up an ODI series win over Pakistan after completing a 52-run victory in the second ODI at Lords. Lewis Gregory produced the goods with bat and ball as a second-string England side sealed victory on Saturday with a game to spare.
A capacity crowd at Lords saw Pakistan win the toss and put England in to bat. Hasan Ali struck early by removing the in form Dawid Malan for nought after he drove loosely to second slip. England’s woes deepened when Zak Crawley was yorked first ball by Shaheen to leave England 21 for two.
Pakistan soon have hosts in trouble
The hosts had to dig deep and were thankful to a third wicket partnership of 97 between Phil Salt and James Vince. Salt eventually went for 60 bowled by spinner Shakeel. Vince went shortly afterwards for 56 to leave England on 118 for three.
Ben Stokes, playing in his 100th ODI was bowled by Ali for 22 which sparked a mini collapse. The excellent Ali bowled John Simpson(17) and had Craig Overton caught behind for a duck. From 118 for two, England had slipped to 160 for seven.
Gregory and Carse rescue England
England were indebted to Gregory(40) and Brydon Carse(31) to push the total up to 247. Ali was the pick of the visitors attack with five for 51.
In reply, Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq who edged Gregory behind for a single. Saqib Mahmood continued his impressive series by having Babar Azam(19) leg before and Mohammad Rizman(10) caught behind.
The visitors continued to struggle with Overton bowling Fakhar Zaman and having Maqsood(19) caught. Shadab Khan(21) perished in the deep at third man to leave Pakistan struggling on 115 for six.
Ali proved he is more than useful with the bat as well as the ball by hitting Mat Parkinson for 22 in one over. Eventually he went for 31 and Saud Shakeel(56) as Pakistan fell short of their target.
Makeshift England side shine
In the opening ODI at Cardiff, England won the toss and put Pakistan in. The home side who fielded five debutants soon had Pakistan on the back foot. Inam-ul-Haq was trapped leg before to the first ball of the match from Mahmood.
The Lancashire fast bowler struck again two balls later when Azam(0) edged to second slip. Gregory then had Rizwan(13) caught behind to Leave Pakistan in deep trouble on 17 for 3. Mahmood picked up his third scalp of the game by trapping Shakeel(5) leg before as the visitors continued to struggle. Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 141 with Mahmood taking four for 42.
141 always looked a figure well below par and it certainly proved so. Despite Salt(7) edging Shaheen shah Afridi to slip, Dawid Malan and Crawley saw England home with almost 28 overs to spare.
An unbroken partnership of 120 with Malan finishing unbeaten on 68 and Crawley 58 enabled England to canter to victory by nine wickets.