Twitter Reactions: Whitewash hopes alive for England

The Leeds crowd witnessed yet another spectacular contest between the home side and Pakistan. Captain Azhar Ali won the toss as Pakistan elected to bat first. They made four changes as Gul, Imad, Rizwan and Irfan came into the playing XI. On the other hand, Jordan, Willey and Bairstow were brought in for England.

While the openers failed to give a good start, the Pakistani skipper stood up tall against the hosts bowling attack. Azhar went on to score 80 runs. As the lower order failed to inspire any confidence amongst themselves, Imad Wasim had other plans.

He smashed a quickfire 57(41)*. This propelled the Pakistan total to a decent 247/8 in their quota of 50 overs. Rashid was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets. Jordan and Moeen got a couple of wickets as well. Plunkett got Sami Aslam but was quite expensive.

Chasing 248, England batsmen had their top order wrecked especially by Irfan. Root got a start but failed to convert it into a big one. They were soon reduced to 72/4 as Pakistan gained an upper hand in the game.

Irfan bowled a decent spell of fast bowling as he struck twice. Gul, Wasim and Hasan got a wicket each. However, Stokes and Bairstow put up a wonderful partnership of 103 runs for the fifth wicket to keep the game alive for England.

Also read – England v Pakistan, 4th ODI – 5 Talking Points

Twitter was filled with enthralling reactions throughout the game. While Azhar Ali got trolled for his funky captaincy, he was appreciated for his batting skills. While Stokes gained accolades for a match-saving innings, the top order was ridiculed. Here are some of the Twitter reactions that took place during the course of the game.

Pakistan fans after watching Stokes bat. #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/KKm3PDIUwc

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) September 1, 2016

Ouch… #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/2ZbJsnvNLG

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) September 1, 2016

Btw, Azhar Ali strike rate is higher that "aggressive" Ahmed Shehzad

— Naveed Nadeem (@NaveedNadeem007) September 1, 2016

Quite pleased England are in this spot. If they are going to win global events they need to recover once top order is gone.

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) September 1, 2016

I was wrong. Not so easy for England. With Hales, Root and Morgan gone theyvare in a hole. Pak's match to win or lose from here…

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 1, 2016

The big man is causing all sorts of problems tonight!! #EngvPak #giant #JustABadCameraAngle ? #irfan pic.twitter.com/0TMGElhfoD

— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) September 1, 2016

https://twitter.com/sansculottic/status/771409877998702592

No six a row for Root as he top edges to Irfan at fine leg…he didn't field well here in 2010, but takes a vital catch this time #ENGvPAK

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) September 1, 2016

Joe Root fails to become the first English batsman to score 6 consecutive ODI fifties! #ENGvPAK

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) September 1, 2016

Mohammad Irfan providing Pakistani fans something to cheer about in Headingley. #ENGvPAK

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) September 1, 2016

Waqar fuming @TenSports_tv . Such passion! "Told them everything wrote it on blackboard. Their dots, shots etc, They don't learn!#ENGvPAK

— Emmad Hameed (@Emmad81) September 1, 2016

Imaad Waseem is future super star of Pakistan Cricket.

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) September 1, 2016

Not the most pressure he'll ever be under, but that was a superb death spell by Jordan: 4-0-14-1 #ENGvPAK

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) September 1, 2016

Swansea's Imad Wasim will rescue Pakistan.

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) September 1, 2016

https://twitter.com/altcricket/status/771367293163016192

England look too strong for Pakistan .. Might move up rankings a notch .. Aus / NZ one and two

— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) September 1, 2016

https://twitter.com/altcricket/status/771360405092524032

Too many of these batsmen have a limited range of strokes which is why they can't score fast enough. #EngvPak #ODIDebacle

— Kamran Abbasi (@KamranAbbasi) September 1, 2016

Pakistan have best Limited over batting lineup in world. Because all our batsman are very limited. #ENGvPAK

— Big Nas (@NasirJamshed_) September 1, 2016

Pakistan will have to seriously introspect its domestic cricket structure. If it deteriorates further it will be irrecoverable Like hockey.

— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) September 1, 2016

Pakistan 40-1 off 10 overs. As far as England's bowlers are concerned, that's reassuringly old-fashioned.

— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) September 1, 2016

Hey Mickey??!!! #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/laZgXoOLgi

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) September 1, 2016

Jonny Bairstow has made a half-century on his father's 65th birth anniversary on their home ground. #ENGvPAK

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 1, 2016