Irfan to return to Pakistan

England, now 4-0 up in this five-match series, slumped to 72 for four pursuing a target of 248.

Stokes’s innings of 69 was his highest one-day worldwide knock in this country, while his partnership of 103 with Bairstow stoked England’s recovery after they had lost Jason Roy, Alex Hales and Morgan cheaply.

With just 12 required of the last three overs, Moeen Ali charged down the wicket twice in span of five balls during Pakistan captain Azhar Ali’s over to smoke him for two towering sixes – the last one sealing the game.

“I’m pleased to get a go”, Bairstow told BBC Radio. “Unfortunately, everyone gets cramp”. If we’re honest, we cruised home. “There was no panic at any point in that chase”, he added.

The hosts, following up the record-breaking heroics of Trent Bridge – where they racked up an all-time highest one-day worldwide total of 444 for three – have also wrapped up Andrew Strauss’ cross-format Super Series for good measure.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against England in the fifth and final one-day worldwide here on Sunday in Cardiff.

“It was a bit more of a competitive game”, said Azhar at the presentation ceremony.

Meanwhile, Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan was ruled out of the remainder of the tour of England, the PCB announced on Saturday.

The inclusion of Irfan, who flew to England last week in place of the injured Mohammad Hafeez, made an early impact on England’s top order, which achieved a world-record 444-3 in the third ODI at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

He managed to bowl just five overs at Headingley as his side crashed to a four-wicket defeat. He was the only batsman to play with any fluency in Pakistan’s innings at Headingley – and is also their most economical bowler in the series – so he seems certain to be one of a small number of players in the squad to have assured his immediate future.

Joe Root again looked in superb touch while making 30.

However, he fell 20 runs short of the record fifty when he top-edged Hasan Ali’s good-length delivery into fine-leg’s hands leaving England struggling at three for 59 in 11.2 overs.

After entertaining the home crowd with six fours and two maximums, Stokes was surely annoyed to get out for 69 with a weak slog-sweep to Babar Azam at deep midwicket off Imad Wasim (1-50).

There was no repeat here as Hales, dismissed for eight by the hulking figure of 7ft 1in Mohammad Irfan, was brought down to size by the giant paceman.

Plunkett held a good catch at point from a Babar Azam cut in Moeen’s first over, and a much better one diving to his left at mid-on as Rashid saw off the risky Sarfaz Ahmed. Bairstow followed suit by skipping down the pitch to drive Mohammad Nawaz for another six.

And Bairstow’s dismissal for 61 was also avoidable, as he was run out following a direct hit from Azhar.

Their batting has been in a shambles throughout the tournament and that they got to 247 was thanks to skipper Azhar Ali who scored a measured 80 while all-rounder Imad Wasim provided the fireworks at the end with a 41-ball 57 run knock.