Pakistan vs. England: Winners and Losers from 3rd ODI
England moved into a 2-1 lead in the one-day series against Pakistan with a six-wicket win in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Pakistan slumped from 92 for one to 208 all out in 49.5 overs.
Chris Woakes was the pick of the England attack with four wickets, though the tourists were helped out by three run outs in Pakistan's innings.
England's pursuit of a below-par target was dealt an early blow by the dismissals of Jason Roy and Joe Root.
Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan did steady the ship, but the departure of both well-set batsmen in quick succession breathed life back into the contest.
However, James Taylor and Jos Buttler shared an unbroken stand of 117 to see the visitors home.
England's victory means they cannot lose the four-match series. The final match takes place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE, on Friday.
Before then, though, take a look at Bleacher Report's winners and losers from Tuesday's action.
Winner: Chris Woakes
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Chris Woakes is making up for lost time in the series against Pakistan.
The Warwickshire seamer at one stage went exactly 50 overs without taking a wicket for his country in ODI action, per ESPN Cricinfo on Twitter.
However, he has now picked up eight in his last two outings. Having taken four for 33 in the second ODI, Woakes followed up with four for 40 in Sharjah.
Woakes cleverly used the short ball to tempt Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed to pull out to a fielder in the deep, while he produced a perfect yorker to knock over last man Mohammad Irfan.
Losers: Pakistan's Running Between the Wickets
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At 92 for one, Pakistan looked on course to post a challenging target.
However, they contrived to undermine their innings with three run outs, meaning for the second successive match, they failed to bat out their full 50 overs.
Azhar Ali set the tone, the captain involved in some calamitous calling with Mohammad Hafeez that gifted England a much-needed breakthrough.
Mohammad Rizwan had only himself to blame for his dismissal, flicking a ball to mid-wicket and setting off for a single that was never on. If he had looked up, he would have seen batting partner Shoaib Malik had barely moved at the other end.
Malik ended up being the final member of Pakistan's run-out club, as he was unable to beat Chris Jordan’s direct hit after Wahab Riaz’s yes-no call had sold him down the river.
Winner: James Taylor and Jos Buttler
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After losing Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan in the space of eight runs, England were wobbling a little at 93 for four in their run chase.
However, James Taylor and Jos Buttler kept their cool under the floodlights at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the duo sharing in an unbeaten partnership worth 117 from 19.1 overs.
Taylor finished up on 67 not out, with his second half-century of the series including two sixes and six fours.
England captain Morgan said of Taylor's knock, per Nottinghamshire CCC on Twitter, "Every role we've given him [Taylor] within the team, he's excelled."
Buttler, meanwhile, saw England over the line in style, launching a six to end unbeaten on 49. His innings was a timely one in terms of his own form, having endured a lean time of it of late.
The wicketkeeper-batsman had previously managed a highest score of 23 not out against Pakistan on the trip.
His run of low scores in the longer format saw him dropped for the third and final Test of the recent series.
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Loser: Sarfraz Ahmed
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Sarfraz Ahmed was promoted up to four in Pakistan’s batting order.
The move seemed to be paying off, as the wicketkeeper-batsman continued on from his battling half-century in the previous match.
But after Mohammad Hafeez’s dismissal left the score at 132 for three, Sarfraz needed to take stock of the situation and build a partnership with his new batting partner, Shoaib Malik.
Yet the aggressive right-hander simply couldn’t resist the temptation of trying to hit off-spinner Moeen Ali somewhere out of the United Arab Emirates.
Instead, all he ended up doing was providing a routine catch for substitute fielder Chris Jordan in the deep.
Pakistan lost six wickets for 29 runs at one stage in their innings. They only made it over 200 thanks to some late blows from Wahab Riaz, who finished up unbeaten on 33.
Winner: Mohammad Irfan
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Pakistan never looked like they had enough runs on the board to trouble England, yet Mohammad Irfan gave them a glimmer of early hope.
The giant paceman wobbled the tourists with a brilliant opening spell: He picked up one wicket at a cost of 13 runs in a hostile four-over burst.
Jason Roy was his victim, the right-hander spooning a catch to cover as he was troubled by bounce from a good length.
Alex Hales was fortunate not to join his opening partner back in the pavilion early on, as the left-armed Irfan—coming in from around the wicket—worked up a serious head of steam.
Winner: Zafar Gohar
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Picked to replace the injured Yasir Shah, debutant spinner Zafar Gohar made an impact on his first appearance for Pakistan.
The 20-year-old—who had only played 19 List A matches before being called up by his country—had some fun with the bat in his hand, making a run-a-ball 15.
However, he had been picked for his bowling, and the slow left-armer finished with respectable figures of two for 54 from his 10 overs.
Joe Root helped out the new boy by sweeping a full toss to deep backward square leg.
The mode of dismissal didn't matter too much to Zafar—he had picked up a wicket with his fifth ball in international cricket.
The dismissal of Alex Hales was more impressive, with a flighted delivery turning enough to take the opener’s outside edge and carry through to Mohammad Rizwan at slip.
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