'Something else': England star stuns cricket world with freakish act
England have sent a huge warning to their World Cup rivals, completing a 4-0 thrashing of Pakistan in their five-match ODI series.
Chris Woakes took five wickets as England beat Pakistan by 54 runs to win the fifth ODI on Sunday – their final match before the World Cup hosts and favourites name their tournament squad.
Woakes took three wickets for no runs in nine balls as Pakistan slumped to 6-3 in pursuit of a target of 352.
Babar Azam (80) and captain Sarfraz Ahmed (97) then kept England at bay but both batsmen were run out and any lingering hope Pakistan had went with them.
Both dismissals were affected in freakish fashion.
First, Adil Rashid got Babar with a brilliant no-look flick back onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end, before Buttler produced an insane stop with his foot to send Sarfraz packing.
The Pakistan captain thought he’d beaten the field with a deft late cut, only for Buttler to stick out his boot, stop the ball and find Sarfraz short of his crease.
Fans couldn’t believe the two pieces of freakish fielding.
That Jos Buttler masterclass against Sarfraz is a drama runout.
— Vicky. (@VickzTiwana) May 19, 2019
First, the reverse flick runout by Rashid and now the outstretched leg of Buttler. Brilliant stuff. The fans should blame Dhoni for these two runouts. #MSDhonithings #ENGvPAK
— Sarfraz Rahmdil (@SarfrazRahmdil) May 19, 2019
First, the reverse flick runout by Rashid and now the outstretched leg of Buttler. Brilliant stuff. #MSDthings #ENGvPAK
— Jimit K 🏏🐶🦷🥦💯 (@jimitdds) May 19, 2019
Wow what a runout by Jos Buttler – fair bit of luck too but his reaction was so quick!
Unlucky for Sarfaraz – brilliant innings!#ENGvPAK— Trevor D (@_trevordonaghy) May 19, 2019
Have you seen buttlers too 🙈 he's something else
— Ashley Britton (@ashleyboo777) May 19, 2019
Unreal
— Stoneyboyo (@stoneyboyo) May 19, 2019
England in fine form
“Winning 4-0 against a very strong Pakistan team is really good for us, going into a crucial World Cup,” man-of-the-match Woakes told Sky Sports.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who top-scored for his side with 97, said: “Result-wise it is not ideal for the World Cup.”
“But the way the batsman are batting we are ready for the World Cup.
“We have taken some positives but we need to sort out our bowling and fielding.”
with AFP
