England miss out on spot in Champions Trophy final

CRICKET: Pakistan to face winners of clash between India and Bangladesh

England checked out of the Champions Trophy with an embarrassing whimper in an eight-wicket semi-final trouncing at the hands of Pakistan in Cardiff.

Eoin Morgan’s men returned to Wales on the back of an unblemished groupstage campaign with their eye on a third successive home final in this tournament and a statement of their intent for the 2019 World Cup on home soil.

However, after mustering only 211 all out on an awkward surface, they managed to delay Pakistan for a mere 37.1 overs as the tourists instead booked their place at The Oval this weekend – possibly against their great rivals India, who face Bangladesh in the second semifinal at Edgbaston today.

Hasan Ali (three for 35) was exemplary as the Pakistan attack performed admirably – despite the key absence of Mohammad Amir with a lastminute back spasm – and with a top- score of just 46 from Joe Root, England fell badly short after being put in on a glorious day.

They lost their last eight wickets for 83 runs, failed to hit a single six on this small playing area and were unable to make Pakistan pay for a series of early fielding lapses which benefited Jonny Bairstow especially.

Many wondered if a tricky chase might nonetheless be on the cards but openers Azhar Ali (76) and Fakhar Zaman (57) made a mockery of that notion in a stand of 118.

Their opposite number Bairstow – brought in to open for the first time in international cricket in place of the outof-form Jason Roy – had responded with a battling 43 but on a used pitch that precluded fluent strokeplay as the ball swung too, England could never get a foothold and folded tamely in their attempt to set a defendable total.

Ben Stokes took 30 balls over his first 10 runs but wickets kept falling at the other end, four for 34 in 11 overs by the time Junaid bounced out Moeen Ali thanks to a memorable running catch in the leg-side deep from Fakhar.

England’s £1.7 million man therefore had little option but to delay his charge deep into the last 10 overs – and his patience was not to be rewarded significantly before he mistimed an attempted big hit into the off-side ring off Hasan to go for a highly untypical 34 from 64 balls, having hit no boundaries.

Picture: Getty. Mohammad Hafeez celebrates hitting the winning runs for Pakistan in their semifinal against England.