England have found the perfect time to find their form and with the ICC World Cup 2019 just around the corner, the hosts broke India’s impressive ODI record during the fourth encounter against Pakistan at Trent Bridge on Friday.
Thanks to this brilliant victory, England have now hunted down 340 plus totals record four times thus eclipsing India’s record, who boasted of doing it three times.
England beat Pakistan by three wickets in the fourth one-day international and the victory gave them an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Babar Azam’s century helped Pakistan reach a respectable 340-7 in their 50 overs, yet once again a decent total proved inadequate for the tourists as England wrapped up victory after a tense finale with three balls to spare.
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Having hunted down a 359-run target with ease in Bristol in the third ODI, England steadily chipped away at Pakistan’s total with Roy leading the charge, bringing up his eighth ODI century in 75 balls.
At that point, the hosts looked set for another routine win on a ground where they had twice scored more than 400 in the last three years.
{{/usCountry}}At that point, the hosts looked set for another routine win on a ground where they had twice scored more than 400 in the last three years.
{{/usCountry}}Yet when Roy departed for 114 with England on 201-2 their momentum ground to a halt as they lost three further wickets for another 15 runs with Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali departing for ducks.
All-rounder Stokes rode to the rescue, however, smacking 71 not out off 64 balls, assisted by 31 from Tom Curran, who had earlier claimed 4-75 with the ball.
(With agency inputs)