Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali took a combined 5-86 as England maintained their unbeaten record in One-Day International cricket over the summer.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat and, despite the best efforts of Azhar Ali (80) and Imad Wasim (57* from 41), only mustered a below par 247-8.

The hosts struggled early on against the returning Mohammad Irfan (2-26) but half centuries from Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, and an unbeaten 45 from Ali guided England to a four-wicket triumph.

Pakistan made four changes after their heavy 169-run defeat at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, with Irfan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Rizwan and Wasim all making a return.

However, the tourists once again struggled to get off to a quick start, two of England’s changes for the fourth match, David Willey and Chris Jordan, removing the Pakistan openers within 15 overs, with just 61 on the board.

Pakistan ODI captain, Azhar Ali had made his way to a brisk 80 before falling to Rashid as the England spinners ensured the tourists never got away in the middle overs.

Rashid (3-47) and Ali (2-39) conceded just 86 from their 20 overs as the latter’s allotment went by without a single boundary.

Wasim, who missed the Trent Bridge match due to injury, then made his second unbeaten fifty of the series, lifting Pakistan to a modest 247-8.

Buoyed by a record-breaking knock just two days before, Alex Hales strode out with opening partner Jason Roy but both fell in Irfan’s opening spell.

And with Joe Root (30) and Eoin Morgan (11) back in the hutch, England found themselves on 72-4 against a Pakistan side with a spring in their step.

However, Stokes and Bairstow, who only found he was playing just before the toss after Jos Buttler picked up an injury in the warm up, added 103 for the fifth wicket.

Despite both batsmen falling before England got over the line, Moeen Ali completed a fine all-round performance with an unbeaten 45.

The left-hander smashed namesake Azhar into the stands to finish the match in style and extend England’s lead to 4-0 ahead of the final ODI in Cardiff on Sunday.

 

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