England have really done their homework well for the one-dayers. Pakistan were the obvious favorites for the ODIs but strangely, they have struggled throughout the three matches played. Credit must be given to Alastair Cook for his brilliant captaincy and even more brilliant batting. Cook has been dominating the Pakistani bowlers and has scored 313 runs in three innings which includes 2 centuries and a fifty, making him average more than a hundred. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first today. Pakistan’s batting has been under scrutiny and it has been vividly noticed that Pakistani batsmen lack the confidence and patience to chase totals. Today Pakistan had the chance to score first and then take advantage of their in-form bowlers. Pakistan miserably failed to do so. On a batting friendly pitch, Pakistan kept losing wicket after wicket.

The openers started sort of decently as Anderson struggled to get his line right in the first couple of overs. Imran Farhat however was the first one to go for 9 runs off Steven Finn’s bowling as he nicked one to the keeper as Pakistan lost their first wicket for 22. In came Azhar Ali and this time Broad got him nicking another one to the keeper for 5 runs. Steven Finn has improved tremendously in his bowling. The way he nips his deliveries from outside the off-stump to middle and leg-stump is probably what the Pakistani batsmen struggle to play most of the times. Asad Shafiq joined a well settled Hafeez on the crease but their partnership couldn’t bore any fruit as Hafeez got trapped LBW in the following over from Stuart Broad for a cautiously made 29. Pakistan were struggling at 49 for 3 and Captain Misbah Ul Haq had to settle things for a struggling Pakistani batting line-up. But he too succumbed to the strong English fast bowling attack as Broad got him for just 1 run; Pakistan out of nowhere were 50 for 4.

The young guns Asad Shafiq and Umar Akmal held the command for a sinking Pakistani ship and made a partnership of 48 runs until Asad Shafiq got run-out for 18 runs. Shahid Afridi joined Umar Akmal as both brought some stability to the score and made a brilliant partnership of 79 runs in which both the batsmen reached their half-centuries. The sheer amount of carefulness in Afridi’s batting was surprising as they cautiously played the power-play overs. But as soon as the 40th over started, Umar Akmal tried to chip a ball to leg side but was brilliantly caught by Patel off Broad’s bowling. Afridi too tried to slog when Umar left him with the responsibilities but got bowled by Anderson.

As usual, the tail couldn’t add much but Umar Gul did struck a handful of boundaries including 2 huge sixes and a four and contributed 27 runs to Pakistan’s 222 in allotted 50 overs as the last wicket fell on the last delivery of the innings. England more than just confident needed 223 to wrap up the series and win themselves a trophy and dignity.

Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen started brilliantly while Umar Gul struggled with his opening with the new ball. The first wicket partnership went for a huge 170 runs as Alaistar Cook couldn’t get his third consecutive hundred was the first man to go but he  managed a well made 80 runs off 98 deliveries which included nine fours and a six. Kevin Pietersen on the other hand looked to attack from the first ball and reached a well deserved century after three and a half years. Morgan was with him at 24 when England finished their run-chase in style and won the series 3-0. This series win is England second since 2007 in Sri Lanka and the third since 1987.

It looked as if England are learning and improving with each game but Pakistan continue to struggle in the limited overs’ format of the game. Pakistan seriously need to work on their batting and win the next game to bring some prestige and joy to their game and countless fans.