Feature

Hales makes amends; Hafeez suffers a repeat

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the final one-day international in Dubai

George Dobell
George Dobell
20-Nov-2015
Alex Hales took a stunning catch, diving forward after running in from the deep, to remove Shoaib Malik  •  AFP

Alex Hales took a stunning catch, diving forward after running in from the deep, to remove Shoaib Malik  •  AFP

Shot of the day
There is footage of Viv Richards during his innings of 189 not out against England at Old Trafford in 1984 - sometimes referenced as the greatest ODI innings - where he steps outside off stump and whips a perfectly respectable ball at least a yard outside off stump through square leg for four. While it would be pushing it to claim Jos Buttler is in that class as a batsman - not many have been - there were moments in his extraordinary century which evoked memories of Richards. One stroke, in particular, brought back memories of that century at Old Trafford: stepping across his stumps, Buttler somehow flicked a full ball from the distinctly swift Mohammad Irfan through square leg with a power and timing that grew gasps from the crowd. There were many impressive moments during this innings, but this was a shot that to all but a few would have been all but impossible.
Near miss of the day
Jason Roy had scored just seven when, drawn into pushing away from his body at a delivery Anwar Ali, he saw a thick inside edge pass perilously close to his off stump and away to the fine leg boundary. Roy went on to register his maiden international century and set the platform for Buttler's outstanding blitz at the end of the innings. It so nearly didn't happen.
Catch of the day
England were growing just a little nervous. Pakistan were up with the rate and, despite the fall of wickets, their batsmen just kept coming. But then Alex Hales, who had earlier made a horrible hash of a catching opportunity from Hafeez on 26, pulled off an outstanding effort to dismiss Shoaib Malik and the chase fizzled away. Malik had thrashed a full toss from Reece Topley towards the midwicket boundary, but Hales, rushing in, threw himself forward and clung on to the ball inches from the ground in an admirably committed move. Even in a game stuffed with outstanding moments, it was an exceptional effort.
Run out of the day
If Pakistan were to have any hope of overhauling their monumental target, it was always likely that one of their top order was going to have to make a substantial contribution. But while several made a decent start, none of them were able to go on and mirror the scores made by Roy or Buttler. While it was understandable that batsmen would fail taking chances - the required run-rate gave them little other option - the dismissal of Hafeez was far more frustrating. After three damaging run-outs in Sharjah, Hafeez fell the same way here after pushing a ball into the off side and setting off for a sharp single. Babar Azam had other thoughts, however, and while he stood in his crease, watching the ball, Hafeez tried desperately - and in vain - to regain his ground.
Change of the day
It didn't take long for Pakistan to benefit from the recall of Ahmed Shehzad. Fielding at backward point, he pulled off a couple of outstanding stops to frustrate England's openers. But it was his presence at the top of the order that allowed Pakistan to look a far more coherent batting line-up. It allowed Azam to move into the middle order, where he looked far more comfortable and, for the first time this series, gave a hint of a Pakistan side that could improve the side's ODI fortunes in the months and years ahead.

George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo