SHARJAH // James Taylor provided another exhibition in how to bat against spin, as he guided England to a six-wicket win, and a 2-1 lead in the four-match series against Pakistan.
Taylor was restored to England’s Test batting line up after three years out earlier this month, and was immediately forced to prove himself on a Sharjah pitch taking substantial turn.
The same was the case in on Tuesday night’s one-day international when he came to the wicket with England struggling on 87 for three, then 93 for four shortly after, in the face of probing spin from the debuting Zafar Gohar.
Taylor, though, led an alliance with Jos Buttler (49 not out) worth 117, as he posted a match-winning 67.
“We tried not to let them settle as we knew it was turning, and we just tried to be as busy as possible,” Taylor said.
Pakistan’s effort with the bat was entirely undone by slipshod running between the wickets.
The slowness of the outfield at Sharjah Cricket Stadium means there is an added importance on speed between the stumps, but Pakistan’s judgment of a run was too often awry.
Azhar Ali and Shoaib Malik both went that way when relatively well set, but Mohammed Rizwan, the 23-year-old batsman, was the most comical culprit.
He picked a non-existent single to Jason Roy, fielding close in on the leg side, sauntered up the wicket, then only realised there was any kind of threat when he was well out of his ground.
Chris Woakes, the England seamer, took four wickets, but Pakistan’s downfall was of their own making as they crumbled to 208 all out.
“We had a very good start but in the middle we just lost it,” said Azhar Ali, the Pakistan captain. “The run outs and a few mistakes with the bat cost us the game.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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