Taylor stars for England
SHARJAH: James Taylor made a calm unbeaten 67 to lead England to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Pakistan in Sharjah yesterday and a 2-1 lead in the four-match one-day international series.
Taylor shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 117 with Jos Buttler (49 not out) to steer the visitors to their target of 209 with nine overs to spare, after Pakistan’s debutant spinner Zafar Gohar had caused early problems.
Pakistan, who won the toss, slumped from 132/2 to 208 all out off 49.5 overs, including three comical run-outs.
Mohammad Hafeez topscored with 45, and Wahab Riaz added a handy 33 not out with the tail as right-arm seamer Chris Woakes took 4/40 for England.
The touring side struggled to 27/2 after losing Jason Roy for just seven and Joe Root for 11.
Root had just reached 2 000 runs for England in all three formats of the game this year when he swept a low full toss off left-armer Gohar’s fifth ball to Iftikhar Ahmed at deep square leg.
Alex Hales hit 30 in a 60-run third-wicket partnership with captain Eoin Morgan before Gohar forced him to edge to Mohammad Rizwan at slip.
Morgan, who earlier took an Irfan bouncer on the helmet and was dropped by Gohar on two, fell in the following over for 35 when a sharply spinning delivery from Shoab Malik clipped his off-stump.
But England’s middle order knuckled down to take the sting out of the Pakistan attack.
Taylor compiled his seventh one-day international 50 and hit six fours and two sixes off 69 balls, while Buttler enjoyed a welcome return to form after a poor run with an unbeaten 49 off 50 deliveries.
The final match in the series takes place in Dubai on Friday. – Reuters LONDON: Former Australia seamer Dirk Nannes has criticised his countrymen’s “horrendous sportsmanship” after Steve Smith’s side failed to acknowledge Ross Taylor’s mammoth knock at the Waca.
New Zealand’s Taylor – whose 290 from 374 balls was the highest score from a visiting batsman in Australia – helped his team to a firstinnings total of 624 on day four of the second Test.
But not a single member of the Australian team congratulated the 31-year-old after he was dismissed by Nathan Lyon, much to the annoyance of Nannes.
“After the innings, not one person from the Australian camp went and shook his hand,” Nannes fumed. “In the spirit of the way this game has been played … I can’t help but be disappointed that no one shook his hand. It’s not hard, is it?
“You don’t have a guy bat for a day and a half and not even acknowledge it. That’s horrendous sportsmanship.”
Former Black Caps batsman and coach Mark Greatbatch also weighed in on the
that Baggy Greens’ conduct, saying: “That is a disgrace, and that sums up the Australians. They’re just arrogant people.”
Australia began their second innings 65 runs behind, but the match meandered to a tame draw yesterday. – Daily Mail