RAWALPINDI - Pakistan clinched the one-day series against England by winning the fourth match by 13 runs on Monday.
Pakistan took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series as their bowlers battled hard to successfully defend a total of 210 runs, eventually bowling England out for 197 in 48.1
overs.
England were also beaten 2-0 in the test series and have now lost their last three one-dayers after winning the first in Lahore by 42 runs. The last match will be played on Wednesday.
The England tail fought bravely to the end after being reduced to 114 for eight with Ian Blackwell (29) and Kabir Ali (39 not out) put on a fighting 50 runs for the ninth wicket.
The partnership provided a glimmer of hope but Blackwell was run-out by a direct throw from substitute fielder Mohammad Asif while going for a quick single with the total on 164 in the 39th over.
Ali then combined with last man James Anderson (11) to get within striking distance of their target before fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had Anderson caught brilliantly at slip by Younis Khan to end the match.
Shahid Afridi was the stand-out performer for his team with 3 for 34 after pacer Rana Naved took the wickets of Matthew Prior and Andrew Strauss in successive balls in the fourth over.
Shoaib followed up by bowling Vikram Solanki for six to leave England on 25 for three after which Pakistan never let up the pressure.
Marcus Trescothick (23) and Andrew Flintoff (40) put on 45 runs but both of them enjoyed good fortune with Flintoff being dropped and a Trescothick outside edge missed by the umpire.
Trescothick finally fell with the total on 70 in the 16th over playing over a ball from super sub off-spinner Arshad Khan.
Paul Collingwood (6), Geraint Jones (12) Flintoff and Liam Plunkett (7) then followed in short order, the latter two lbw at the hands of Afridi, to leave England relying on the tailend of their batting.
- REUTERS
