By: Tarish Bhatt
Traditionally, England have never been a limited-overs side, and in the shorter version of the game they have struggled more often than not.
But, the new leadership of Eoin Morgan seems to have changed it all, as England now looking like a different side altogether.
They are setting imposing totals on the board, and are not shying away from playing risky, aggressive cricket. England were once again in their element in Dubai, as they handed a thumping 84-run defeat to Pakistan.
England set an imposing 355 on the board, and took the game totally away from Pakistan, more so owing to a turbo-charged century from Jos Buttler, who totally ripped apart Pakistan bowling, alongwith Jason Roy.
“The messages we were getting was it was a little bit two-paced…but it clearly obviously got better to bat on, didn’t it?” Eoin Morgan said. “To get 350-plus on that wicket really set the game up for us.”
The innings played by Jos Buttler was the fastest ODI ton by an England batsman, and it come in just 46 balls. Jos Buttler’s ton was enough to demolish Pakistan and their confidence as they were to chase a mammoth total.
Jason Roy also played his part in England’s imposing total, as he made his maiden ODI ton, but his effort was overshadowed by Jos Buttler, who was in the element of his own.
Buttler struck eight sixes and ten boundaries in his super innings, and helped England in sealing the four-match series 3-1 in Dubai.
“To come back to this ground, having been dropped after the Test match here and have a bit better day is obviously immensely satisfying.
“You just tend to get into a rhythm, and everything is working well – and you just react to the ball that comes down,” Jos Buttler said.
“Once I got to 50, feeling like everything was clicking into place, I knew that if I batted the whole innings I’d be up around the 100 mark.”
“Everything seemed to come off – when I didn’t get it, it landed in a gap. It was one of those days,” he concluded.
In reply, Pakistan could only manage to post 271 on the board, with Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik scoring half-centuries, but couldn’t capitalise on the start.
