Chris Woakes 4-for helps England restrict Pakistan to modest 208 in third ODI at Sharjah

England totally dominated Pakistan in the first innings of the third One-Day International (ODI) at Sharjah restricting them to 208, thanks in large part to another 4-for by Woakes. They were exceptional with the ball taking wickets at regular intervals except for a brief period when Mohammad Hafeez was involved in a sizable partnership with Sarfraz Ahmed. Pakistan were dismal in their combat against some buoyant bowling and most batsmen fell to miscalculated shots as a result of disciplined bowling from the English bowlers. There were also a couple of totally unnecessary run outs that added to their misery. It is going to take one miraculous effort for Pakistan to defend this paltry total on a decent pitch. LIVE SCORECARD: Pakistan vs England, 3rd ODI at Sharjah

Pakistan’s openers were off to a watchful start and did quite well to see of the new ball. Babar Azam looked particularly steady but fell prey to a rising delivery by Chris Woakes that took his top edge on the hook shot and the ball settled into fine-leg’s hands for a fairly easy catch. The next dismissal was a run out with scratchy skipper Azhar Ali falling way short of his crease in part due to good fielding by James Taylor at point and in part due to his own indecisiveness. LIVE UPDATES: Pakistan vs England, 3rd ODI at Sharjah

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Mohammad Hafeez seemed to be in great form and played some really good shots especially off leg-spinner Adil Rashid but Moeen Ali managed to quieten him at the other end and he was not that convincing against fast bowlers either. He was supported by a fluent Sarfraz Ahmed to take Pakistan into a position of apparent command, but that’s when Pakistan went into the latest episode of the great collapse. Pakistan’s score was 132 for two in the 30th over when Hafeez tried to play a glance of a back of a length delivery by Willey but the extra bounce on the delivery took his top edge and he was caught at deep square leg.

In the next over, Moeen reaped the rewards for economical bowling and dismissed Sarfraz Ahmed. Two overs later Mohammad Rizwan was run out in a rather silly attempt for  a quick single. Malik who watched on in horror at Rizwan’s careless run out was himself run out later when the innings had reached a more hopeless state.

Iftikhar Ahmed also fell to a shortish delivery by Woakes managing only a top edge on the attempted pull shot which was caught at deep square leg. Anwar Ali fell to Reece Topley playing a shot that had great vertical distance but horizontal distance only a few yards away from the pitch in direction of mid off.

Wahab Riaz kept the Pakistan boat floating in the end with some resilient display. They were not convincing in their shot selection for most part but were effective in taking a few singles and sneaking the occasional boundary too. Zafar Gohar scored a run-a-ball 15 but then got out to Woakes. Riaz kept the show going though and struck a couple of muscular sixes! His efforts took Pakistan past the 200-run mark and gives Pakistan a sliver of hope. Mohammad Irfan was the final wicket to fall in the 50th over becoming Woakes’ fourth wicket.

Pakistan 208 in 49.5 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 45, Wahab Riaz 33; Chris Woakes 4 for 40) vs England.