|| Desk Report ||

Earlier today England chased down a humungous total of 358 against Pakistan and took a 2-0 lead in the series. England won the game smoothly by 6 wickets with 5.1 overs to spare.

Jonny Bairstow ( 128 ) and Imam Ul Haq ( 151 ) both scored a hundred but Imam’s magnificent 151 runs went in vain as England won the game pretty easily.

It really doesn’t matter for England that how many runs they are gonna chase because their top 7 are so strong that they can chase down anything. England had won 15 consecutive ODIs when chasing a total at home, this was their second highest chase ever.

Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow made a blistering start for the Englishmen, they put 159 runs on the board in just 17.3 overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi dropping Roy was indisputably a match changing moment, not just because of the destruction Roy caused thereafter but also how simple the catch was. 

The partnership finally broke at 159 when Roy got out scoring 76 runs (8 fours, 4 sixes). Faheem Ashraf got the breakthrough for the Pakistan.

But Bairstow went on demolishing the Pakistan bowlers. The pitch so flat that the bowlers didn’t get any assistance from the pitch whatsoever.

Shaheen Afridi,Imad Wasim , Junaid Khan all went out of the park pretty regularly by the English batsmen. Bairstow finally got out at 228 after scoring a sizzling 128 runs with 15 fours and 5 sixes.

Other English batsmen also chipped in with quick useful knocks, Root ( 43 runs from 36 balls ), Stokes ( 36 runs from 37 runs ), Moin Ali ( 46 runs from 36 balls). They took the English ship into the winning shore without any bump.

The pitch was a batting paradise. Earlier in the match Pakistan batsmen also dismantled the English bowlers. Specially Imam ul Haq, who scored his career best 151 runs today with 16 fours and a six.

Asif Ali’s 52 and Harris Sohel’s 41 runs helped Pakistan to reach a formidable total of 358 runs. But all of their efforts went in vain in front of English batting power. Chris Wokes was the pick of the bowler for England he took 4 wickes by giving 67 runs.

After this loss Pakistan could only draw the series now as England are 2-0 up and one match was abandoned.

This match is an indication of what might happen in the upcoming world cup and how difficult it would be to beat England in their home soil.

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