England set Pakistan target of 248 as Hasan Ali takes five wickets

England set Pakistan target of 248 in second ODI as Hasan Ali takes five wickets in front of packed house at Lord’s as fans in first sold out crowd since the start of the pandemic

  • England made a total of 247 all out against Pakistan in the second ODI game 
  • A full house of 31,100 fans returned for the first time since the start of Covid 
  • Hasan Ali tore through England’s middle order, taking Ben Stokes’ wicket
  • Opener Phil Salt kept his cool to notch an impressive total of 60 runs 

Phil Salt top-scored with 60 at Lord’s as England’s new-look side were dismissed for 247 by Pakistan in front of English cricket’s biggest crowd since 2019.

With no attendance limits in place for the first time since the pandemic began and most seats taken, the teams shared an entertaining first-innings battle worthy of the occasion in the second Royal London ODI.

Salt set a vibrant tone in just his second international outing, while there was a career-best 56 from James Vince. But with Hasan Ali taking five for 51, the tourists were able to pick up regular wickets to halt the progress.

Hasan Ali picked up a five-wicket haul as England set Pakistan a total of 248 in the second ODI

The 27-year-old tore through England’s middle order to put his side in a good position

A 69-run eighth-wicket partnership from Lewis Gregory and Brydon Carse, both batting for the first time in ODIs, boosted the home cause but Pakistan were marginal favourites to square the series 1-1 at halfway.

England had bowled first, and won, in each of their previous four ODIs over the past fortnight but that blueprint was flipped when Babar Azam won the toss and sent them in first in a rain-reduced 47-over innings.

Zak Crawley and Dawid Malan excelled in Cardiff last time out, sharing an unbeaten, chanceless stand of 120, but the scales evened themselves out in emphatic fashion here as both men were dismissed for nought.

Hasan picked up the wicket of stand-in captain Ben Stokes in a huge boost for the tourists

Malan was first, squirting Hasan to second slip off the toe of the bat, while Crawley was greeted by a textbook yorker that raced from the hand of Shaheen Shah Afridi and smashed the base of his off stump.

Salt enjoyed a better, bolder start, beating the in-field twice in the first over then charging Hasan with a hint of impudence to crash him down the ground for four more. The Sussex man made no pretence of refinement, benefiting from a decent share of edges on both sides of the bat and willing to take up some inelegant positions, but with 40 runs in boundaries he was relentlessly aggressive.

Four of those came in Faheem Ashraf’s first over, all in different scoring zones in outright defiance of strategic field placement. He and Vince proved a handy pairing, with the latter pouring himself enthusiastically into pulls and cuts on his way to a 36-ball half-century. Things were drifting out of Pakistan’s grasp until Salt’s luck ran out on 60, Saud Shakeel bowling him off a deflected sweep.

Phil Salt top scored for the hosts with a determined knock of 60 runs at Lord’s on Saturday

Having passed his previous best of 51, Vince’s job was to anchor the innings but he was also undone by spin, Shadab Khan foxing him with a brilliant googly. From there it was over to Hasan, who removed Ben Stokes, John Simpson and Craig Overton in the space of 10 deliveries.

There was no doubt who the prize scalp was, Stokes (22) aiming a mighty golf swing towards extra cover but misreading the angle and seam movement at the cost of his off stump.

Gregory (40) and Carse (31) halted the slide, putting away some poor balls but also running furiously between the wickets to top up the total. Haris Rauf persevered to see off both, before Hasan wrapped up his five-for when Saqib Mahmood holed out.  

A full house of 31,100 spectators were at Lord’s for the first time since the start of Covid-19

‘The condition was very suitable for the pacers,’ Hasan told Sky Sports. 

On the wicket of Stokes, he said: ‘Obviously we all know he is a good player and he can change the game so I am happy to get him out today. 

‘It’s been 20 months that I have been away from international cricket but I worked hard to come back. 

‘I am very happy I am doing good for my country and getting wickets for my country. We have a good batting side and I hope we will chase inshallah.’       




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