England make thrilling return to Lord’s in first ODI at the ground since 2019 World Cup final

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Almost two years into the day since the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s, England played their first ODI on the field since that famous game, with a packed crowd at Home of Cricket receiving another exciting, if not so close, encounter when the hosts finished. series win over Pakistan

Ben Stokes returned to the scene from his heroics at the 2019 World Cup, captaining England to seal the series with victory over Pakistan.

Somehow, England’s latest ODI at Lord’s couldn’t have been more different than the previous one at the iconic venue.

Saturday’s game was far less significant than the fascinating World Cup final almost two years ago; England XI, the substitute captain of the bar Ben Stokes, was unrecognizable from the one who took the field against New Zealand on that unforgettable day; and the not-so-close ending meant that those watching still had fingernails left this time.

But, in other respects, it was extremely similar.

Fans coming down from St John’s Wood tube station with their baskets in tow. Morning drizzle that causes a delay in the start. A packed crowd. The team that hit first got a working total in 240. England completing a victory that earned them a trophy. A thrilling Wimbledon final happening simultaneously (Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer back then, Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Pliskova this time).

Oh, and excitement. A lot of emotion.

The final stages of the World Cup final may never be overshadowed on a cricket ground in terms of drama, even if Stokes ran them up close with his mind-blowing, match-winning Ashes hit Emerald Headingley later in that. glorious summer of cricket.

But, if you recall, that 50-year-old masterpiece was something of a slow burn before it turned into a crisp crescendo that featured a deviant six that should have been five, a Super Over, and England beating the Black Caps by “the slightest margins”.

A smolder on Saturday, however, was not.

Having been denied cricket for 90 minutes by the frustrating mizzle and then seeing the game cut from 50 overs to 47, the crowd at Lord’s, the first capacity crowd in a match hosted by the ECB since the coronavirus pandemic began, got a ride of excitement.

Dawid Malan and Zak Crawley, who went half a century unbeaten in Cardiff on Thursday when a Covid-altered England defeated Pakistan by nine wickets, were ruled out for ducks within five overs.

Malan gave Hasan Ali a laugh behind the sixth ball after being severely tested by the Pakistan closer for most of the first five, while Crawley was out of the first delivery he faced when Shaheen Shah Afridi hit the stumps with a delicious yorker that flew under the batter’s sword. .

Phil Salt broke a maiden fifty, 41-issue ODI

However, a score of 21-2 after 4.1 overs skyrocketed to 118-2 after 17.2, with Phil Salt and James Vince, who were on England’s World Cup squad two years ago but did not play in the end, finding the fence on the way. Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, who are currently isolating, have been doing it for years.

Salt, who overturned an ejection caught behind in the 10th before falling back on the spot a few balls later, attacked just about everything, nailing two fours to Afridi in the first over and four to Faheem Ashraf in the eighth when he went to the Hell by Leather just his second England game.

The Sussex batsman moved to a 41-ball maiden fifty ODI, but that was overtaken by Vince, who made a second half-century 36-ball ODI during a third 97-only 80-ball wicket.

But, as the action continued breathless, Pakistan returned, with Salt, Vince, Stokes and John Simpson hitting their stumps and Craig Overton trailing behind as England dropped to 160-7 and tourists delighted their many very loud fans. on the steps of the Lord.

Stokes, called back to international action with England’s starting ODI team confined to their Bristol hotel rooms after a Covid outbreak, rekindled memories of his brilliant World Cup final entries by sweeping back his fourth ball for four and draw his eleventh. for six.

The all-rounder, which played his 100th ODI on the same terrain as his most memorable, was launched on the charge by livewire Hasan, who finished 5-51 from 9.2 overs.

Once Hasan had Overton under review, Pakistan would have hoped to polish England’s innings soon after, only for the hosts to add 87 more runs from that point, with most of them at a 69 position between Lewis Gregory and Brydon Carse. for the eighth wicket.

At one point it seemed that, appropriately enough, England could match the total of 241 scored by both themselves and New Zealand in the World Cup final, but Mahmood smashed the scenario dreamed of by a nerd by hitting a four on Haris Rauf with the home team 240-9.

England’s 248 total proved to be quite good as while they had been able to come back from 86-4 in the World Cup final, Pakistan couldn’t come back enough from 53-4 and eventually slipped to 195 when Gregory backed your contribution. with the bat taking three wickets and Mahmood, Overton and Matt Parkinson hitting twice each.

The excitement, then, did not come from a close ending, but from players who weren’t ready to watch before Covid made it to the initial ODI pool showing off their skills in front of an army of fans.

Mahmood after his 4-42 during demolition work in Cardiff two days earlier with another electric sewing bowling display, which included firing Babar Azam once again, while further pushing his Ashes claims.

Wicketkeeper Simpson claimed an outstanding catch to the side of the leg while premeditating Faheem’s sweep of Parkinson. Paceman Carse bagged a first international wicket.

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