Azhar Ali: Pakistan will play positive cricket against England

Pakistan had got off to a healthy start as they cruised to 92 for one in the 20th over, but the needless run out of skipper Azhar Ali was a sign of things to come.

For the second game in a row, Warwickshire all-rounder Woakes was England’s leading man with the ball, following his 4-33 in the second ODI with 4-40. James Taylor scored 67 whereas Jos Buttler ended up on 49 as he finished the match with a huge six.

He has put a fallow period behind him with successive four-wicket hauls in the last two ODIs to help England to victory in each.

Series:This is the third ODI of the four-match series. He hit two sixes off legspinner Adil Rashid but otherwise consumed 71 balls, and was at fault in running out Azhar.

Fight by tail: Wahab Riaz was resolute in a time of adversity and resolved to bat on till the end.

England JJ Roy, AD Hales, JE Root, EJG Morgan (capt), JWA Taylor, JC Buttler (wk), MM Ali, CR Woakes, AU Rashid, DJ Willey, RJW Topley. Undecided whether to pull or leave, he top-edged a slow, short delivery from Willey to be caught by Joe Root at the square-leg fence.

Woakes struck in the 36th over, dismissing Iftikhar Ahmed, to pick up his second wicket.

Buttler had one telling early moment of fortune, when he yorked himself against Shoaib on nought and Sarfraz Ahmed missed the stumping. Hafeez was so consumed with a steer to point that he forgot to look at Azhar and give the right call.

Pakistan appeared to be on course for a much more substantial total after choosing to bat first at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, but lost their way alarmingly as England withstood early pressure and bowled and fielded well throughout.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan summed up the feelings of many when he tweeted: ‘3 run outs and a few iffy shots from Pakistan. “I thought the partnership between Buttler and Taylor was outstanding It’s a huge step forward for us, particularly our middle order and our batting unit having absolute clarity in what we were doing and playing in the positive way in which we’re trying to improve the way we play all the time”, said Morgan.

Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis has insisted that his side will have to play out of their skins to stage a strong comeback against England in the third one-day worldwide in Sharjah on Tuesday.

“Then we have injury to Imad Wasim”, said Azhar of the newcomer who was ruled out of the four-match series with a hand injury.