England v Pakistan, 2016
Wisden's review of the first ODI, England v Pakistan, 2016
Julian Guyer
15-Apr-2017
At Southampton, August 24 (day/night). England won by 44 runs (DLS). England 2pts. Toss: Pakistan.
Following a closely fought Test series, England comfortably ended a run of five straight one-day defeats at the Rose Bowl, thanks to sixties from Roy and Root. Roy got the chase going with three fours in four balls from Umar Gul, the first an astonishing straight-batted punch through midwicket. In the next over, the fourth, he suffered a disconcerting dizzy spell that held up play; in the sixth - having launched a pull shot straight up in the air - he was dropped by Sarfraz Ahmed off Mohammad Amir on 24. Undeterred, he carried on to a delightful 65 off 56 balls, while Root proved it was possible to score briskly without resorting to extravagance. Their target of 261 never looked a problem. So it was a surprise when Roy was dismissed, his slog off Mohammad Nawaz well held by Babar Azam at long-off, and Root was cursing himself after being run out by Azhar Ali. But Morgan and Stokes settled in, before a rain break left England needing only 59 more from 14 overs; three balls after the resumption, the rain returned, this time for good. Earlier, Wood - back from an ankle injury for his first international since October 2015 - repeatedly topped 90mph, and had the dangerous Sharjeel Khan caught behind in his third over. Pakistan's innings only briefly threatened to get out of second gear against some accurate bowling. Azhar's 110-ball 82 typified their struggle, and they managed only four fours in the last ten overs.
Man of the Match: J. J. Roy. A
Following a closely fought Test series, England comfortably ended a run of five straight one-day defeats at the Rose Bowl, thanks to sixties from Roy and Root. Roy got the chase going with three fours in four balls from Umar Gul, the first an astonishing straight-batted punch through midwicket. In the next over, the fourth, he suffered a disconcerting dizzy spell that held up play; in the sixth - having launched a pull shot straight up in the air - he was dropped by Sarfraz Ahmed off Mohammad Amir on 24. Undeterred, he carried on to a delightful 65 off 56 balls, while Root proved it was possible to score briskly without resorting to extravagance. Their target of 261 never looked a problem. So it was a surprise when Roy was dismissed, his slog off Mohammad Nawaz well held by Babar Azam at long-off, and Root was cursing himself after being run out by Azhar Ali. But Morgan and Stokes settled in, before a rain break left England needing only 59 more from 14 overs; three balls after the resumption, the rain returned, this time for good. Earlier, Wood - back from an ankle injury for his first international since October 2015 - repeatedly topped 90mph, and had the dangerous Sharjeel Khan caught behind in his third over. Pakistan's innings only briefly threatened to get out of second gear against some accurate bowling. Azhar's 110-ball 82 typified their struggle, and they managed only four fours in the last ten overs.
Man of the Match: J. J. Roy. A