Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed brought up a magnificent half-century on the last ball of the 21st over during the second One-Day International (ODI) against England on Saturday.
The 29-year-old took 61 balls to register his career’s sixth fifty plus score and kept Pakistan afloat after huge blows early on.
He put up 64 and 59 run partnerships with Baber Azam and Shoaib Malik, before the latter got caught behind in the 27th over trying to work Mark Wood to third-man.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was joined by all-rounder Imad Wasim as Pakistan were 126 for five in 26.3-overs.
Earlier, the tourists were struggling at four down for 68 in 13.4-overs after Azam fell to Liam Plunkett’s full-length delivery during the second One-Day International (ODI) against England on Saturday.
The middle-order batsman put up a solid 30 off 33 balls, before getting bowled out.
Baber’s wicket ended a crucial 64-run partnership with Sarfraz Ahmed that brought Pakistan back into the game after being three down for just two runs.
Pakistan openers and one-down Azhar Ali were back in the hutch in first 19 balls.
Making his ODI return, Aslam was given caught behind on a review when umpire Marius Erasmus had turned down Woakes’ appeal of his fourth ball.
However, on review it was revealed that the ball had kicked the left-hander’s gloves before settling into wicketkeeper Jos Buttler’s hands.
Sharjeel was the Three Lions’ second scalp, when Pakistan were 2-2 in 2.2-overs, as a scorching dipper knocked the batter’s off-stump out of the ground.
Tourists skipper fell five balls later to Woakes as an immaculate out-swing delivery off good-length got him caught behind.
Pakistan were two for three in 3.1-overs.
Toss
Yasir Shah made his limited-overs comeback as Pakistan captain won the toss and elected to bat first.
Pakistan made three changes in the playing XI, whereas England remain unchanged.
Shah, 30, has replaced young left-arm orthodox Mohammad Nawaz. Mohammad Hafeez, struggling with a knee injury, was replaced by left-handed opening batsman Sami Aslam, who impressed the selectors with well-fought half-centuries in the recently concluded Test series.
Fast bowler Umar Gul has also been replaced by Hasan Ali.
In the first one-dayer on Wednesday, England beat Pakistan by 44 runs on Duckworth/Lewis method to take 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Meanwhile, Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has warned senior members of the team to perform or get ready to be replaced by youngsters.
“I told the players that nobody is safe and if you are over 30 I am afraid you have to come to the table more often than not otherwise it gives us an opportunity to blood some younger players,” Arthur said.
“Nobody is safe in this one-day side and they need to step up,” said the head coach in an obvious reference to the struggling duo of Hafeez and Shoaib Malik.
Pakistan aim to bounce back in the series.
Pitch and Weather: The pitch is dry and has a tinge of grass, which will not shape the course of the match according to experts. The forecast is clear for the day.
Team line-ups
England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood
Pakistan: Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir
