Pakistan v England, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the third ODI, Pakistan v England, 2015-16
15-Apr-2017
At Sharjah, November 17, 2015 (day/night). England won by six wickets. Toss: Pakistan.
One-day international debut: Zafar Gohar. Taylor's skill against spin was once again in evidence as England claimed a 2-1 lead on a turning pitch. He and Buttler, who returned to form in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 117, rescued them from a perilous 93 for four to overcome Pakistan's 208 with all of nine overs to spare. Using his feetnimbly and sweeping decisively, Taylor finished with 67 from 69 balls, and Buttler on 49 from 50, his first innings of substance for England for more than five months. Mohammad Irfan had bowled a hostile opening spell to account for Roy, and Taylor and Buttler came together when Shoaib Malikand Zafar Gohar, the debutant left-arm spinner, were turning the ball sharply. But Sarfraz Ahmedmissed a stumping off Shoaib before Buttler had scored; Pakistan would not get another opportunity.Their own innings had featured an extraordinary collapse from 132 for two. Three of the top six fellto absurd run-outs, and five others provided catches on the boundary. Woakes finished with another haul of four as the last eight wickets tumbled for 76. It was a capitulation of such baffling incompetence that the former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: "I hate the fact we watch cricket with so much suspicion. It shouldn't be that way." Some late blows from Wahab Riaz gave Pakistan's total a veneer of respectability, but their efforts had been pitiful.
Man of the Match:J. W. A. Taylor
One-day international debut: Zafar Gohar. Taylor's skill against spin was once again in evidence as England claimed a 2-1 lead on a turning pitch. He and Buttler, who returned to form in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 117, rescued them from a perilous 93 for four to overcome Pakistan's 208 with all of nine overs to spare. Using his feetnimbly and sweeping decisively, Taylor finished with 67 from 69 balls, and Buttler on 49 from 50, his first innings of substance for England for more than five months. Mohammad Irfan had bowled a hostile opening spell to account for Roy, and Taylor and Buttler came together when Shoaib Malikand Zafar Gohar, the debutant left-arm spinner, were turning the ball sharply. But Sarfraz Ahmedmissed a stumping off Shoaib before Buttler had scored; Pakistan would not get another opportunity.Their own innings had featured an extraordinary collapse from 132 for two. Three of the top six fellto absurd run-outs, and five others provided catches on the boundary. Woakes finished with another haul of four as the last eight wickets tumbled for 76. It was a capitulation of such baffling incompetence that the former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: "I hate the fact we watch cricket with so much suspicion. It shouldn't be that way." Some late blows from Wahab Riaz gave Pakistan's total a veneer of respectability, but their efforts had been pitiful.
Man of the Match:J. W. A. Taylor