Vince’s maiden England ton helps clinch series whitewash
James Vince scored a magnificent maiden century for England as he and Lewis Gregory inspired their makeshift side to a series whitewash over Pakistan in the third one-day international at Edgbaston.
England's team of emergency call-ups had already clinched the Royal London Trophy with back-to-back wins but found this was a victory of a different magnitude - a record chase at the ground and one that came steeped in adversity.
Chasing 332 after Babar Azam's superb 158, Vince navigated a rocky road from 165 for five and banished six years of unfulfilled promise at the highest level to make a brilliant 102.
Gregory also proved his skill and heart with a punchy 77 and when both men stumbled at the line, tailenders Craig Overton and Brydon Carse carried them home.
When Carse, who had already picked up five for 61 with the ball, stroked the winning runs through extra cover
it was enough for a three-wicket win, a 3-0 clean sweep and all with 12 balls to spare.
It was a performance which even the late, great Bob Willis
- for whom the ground had turned blue in a fundraising effort to help fight prostate cancer - could not have found fault, even at his most comedically curmudgeonly.
Man of the match Vince said: "We got off to a good start, so the run rate never really got out of control. It's pleasing to make a contribution - this time last week I didn't expect to get the opportunity. I'm delighted and enjoyed every minute out there."
Ben Stokes, standing in as captain for the ODI series with regular skipper Eoin Morgan and the whole of the initial 16-man squad forced into isolation after a Covid-19 outbreak, said: "I think throughout the series, all the effort from all the guys who played has been fantastic.
"I've got to give a massive thanks to the players, coaches and support staff for making this happen. It's been a tough week for everyone involved but we've manged to pull through and to put in performances like that is fantastic.
"No one has taken a backward step. Tremendous credit has to go to Eoin for the way he has led the team in the last five years."