Rosberg on pole again

brilliant century by Sarfraz Ahmad, the first by any batsman from Pakistan in a One-day International at Lord’s, failed to stop England from winning the second game by four wickets yesterday and taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

Having won easily at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday, England had the tourists 2-3 courtesy of an early blitz from opening bowlers Mark Wood and Chris Woakes.

Ahmad stood out with a superb 105 and Imad Wasim struck 63 not out to salvage a competitive total of 251.

But Joe Root’s 89 and 68 from Mercedes ace makes the most of teammate Hamilton’s penalty in Belgium as young Verstappen is second | Eoin Morgan helped England to a four-wicket win with 15 balls to spare.

England’s victory is their first in an ODI at Lord’s since 2012, having lost their previous three games at the ground.

Rearguard rally

Ahmad’s 105 was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s 251 all out — a seemingly below par total but one that looked well out of reach as they slumped to two for three following captain Azhar Ali’s decision to bat first.

Imad Wasim’s 63 not out was also his career-best score at this level and the left-hander helped Ahmad add 77 for the sixth wicket. Pacemen Chris Woakes and Mark Wood took three wickets apiece as England looked to go 2-0 up in this five-match series following their 44-run rain-affected win at Southampton on Wednesday.

Pakistan lost recalled opener Sami Aslam (one) following an England review after his attempted pull off Woakes was held down the legside by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

There was no hot-spot mark but Australian third umpire Simon Fry decide the spike on real time snicko was large enough to give Aslam out.

But there was no doubt at all when Wood dismissed Sharjeel Khan for nought with an express delivery that cut sharply off the seam to knock over the lefthander’s off stump.

Azhar Ali also fell for a duck when caught behind off Woakes. Babar Azam and Ahmad kept England at bay, with Azam (30) hitting several stylish boundaries before he played on to Plunkett.

Pakistan were 66 for four at that stage.

But Ahmad, as he’d often done during the preceding 2-2 drawn Test series, frustrated England with a mixture of orthodox and improvised shots.

Ahmad completed a 124-ball century when he leg-glanced Plunkett for his sixth four. He then successfully reviewed Plunkett’s lbw appeal before he slog-swept Ali to Alex Hales in the deep.

Pakistan

Aslam c Buttler b Woakes 1 Sharjeel Khan b Wood 0 Azhar Ali c Buttler b Woakes 0 Babar Azam b Plunkett 30 Sarfraz c Hales b Rashid 105 Shoaib c Buttler b Wood 28 Imad Wasim not out 63 Ali c Root b Plunkett 0 Riaz c Plunkett b Woakes 6 Yasir Shah c Roy b Wood 0 Amir run out (Woakes) 6

(b4, lb4, w4) 12 (all out, 49.5 overs) 251

1-2 (Aslam), 2-2 (Sharjeel), 3-2 (Azhar), 4-66 (Babar), 5-125 (Malik), 6-202 (Ahmad), 7-223 (Hassan), 8-236 (Riaz), 9-238 (Shah), 10-251 (Amir)

Extras Total Fall of wickets: Bowling:

Wood 10-1-46-3 (2w); Woakes 9.5-2-42-3 (2w); Rashid 10-0-51-1; Plunkett 10-0-50-2; Ali 10-0-54-0

England

Root c Shoaib b Riaz Morgan b Imad Wasim

(47.3 overs 6 wkts)

Total

Toss: Umpires:

TV umpire: Match referee:

(NZL) (Scores incomplete) 89 68 255 Pakistan Marais Erasmus (RSA), Tim Robinson (ENG) Simon Fry (AUS) Jeff Crowe