Stokes, Bairstow guide England to 4-0 series lead

LEEDS: England’s Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow struck half centuries to guide the hosts to a four-wicket victory over Pakistan in the fourth one-day international in Leeds yesterday as they went 4-0 ahead in the five-match series.

England restricted Pakistan to 247 for eight in their 50 overs, before easing to a match-winning 252-6 with two overs remaining.

Pakistan’s innings was anchored by Azhar Ali’s 80 off 104 balls, while Imad Wasim was again impressive with an unbeaten 41-ball 57, however the tourists struggled to shake off the shackles that England had imposed on them. Adil Rashid took 3-47, while Moeen Ali finished with figures of 2-39.

The tourists enjoyed early success when England’s Jason Roy (14) edged Mohammad Irfan to Mohammad Rizwan in the third over.

The hosts’ Alex Hales, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan were also dismissed to leave England on 72-4 in the 15th over.

But Stokes hit 69 from 70 balls in a 103-run fifth-wicket partnership with Bairstow to energise the home team.

Stokes’s innings ended one run short of his ODI best when he tried to heave an Imad delivery over the boundary, allowing Babar Azam to take a catch with England on 175.

Bairstow was run out for 61 after trying to pinch a single off Umar Gul, only to have Azhar Ali’s superb fielding leaving him inches short and England needing 23 more runs for victory. – Reuters