Eng closer to series sweep

Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow both made fifties as England beat Pakistan by four wickets in the fourth one-day international at Headingley on Thursday.

England, now 4-0 up in this five-match series, slumped to 72 for four pursuing a target of 248.

But Stokes (69) and wicket-keeper Bairstow (61), only playing on his Yorkshire home ground after Jos Buttler was ruled out in the warm-up with a hamstring injury, got the innings back on track with a fifth-wicket partnership of 103.

Neither batsman was in at the finish of this day/night fixture, with Moeen Ali (45 not out) hitting Pakistan captain Azhar Ali for six to win the match with 12 balls to spare.

"We thought it was an attainable target and if we're honest, we cruised home. There was no panic at any point in that chase," Bairstow told BBC Radio.

England were chasing a target that seemed all the more modest after their world ODI record total of 444 for three during a 169-run win in the third match at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

But they lost four wickets inside 15 overs of their reply to a Pakistan total of 247 for eight built on Azhar's 80 and all-rounder Imad Wasim's unbeaten 57.

"It was a bit more of a competitive game," said Azhar at the presentation ceremony. "Again we were a few runs short...The wicket was turning but it was still a good pitch. But we lost wickets frequently."

Giant fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, a late-call up to the squad, marked his first match of the series by removing both England openers.

The 7ft 1in (2.16m) Irfan produced a rising delivery that Jason Roy (14) could only edge and Mohmammad Rizwan held a fine catch diving to his left at second slip.

Alex Hales, who had made an England ODI record 171 at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, then fell for eight when he was caught behind off Irfan, who was twice warned for running on the pitch.

SCORES IN BRIEF

PAKISTAN: 247 for 8 in 50 overs (Azhar 80, Imad 57 not out; Jordan 2-42, Rashid 3-47, Moeen 2-39)

ENGLAND: 252 for 6 in 48 overs (Root 30, Stokes 69, Bairstow 61, Moeen 45; Irfan 2-26)

Result: England won by four wickets and lead five-match series 4-0.

Player-of-the-match: Jonny Bairstow.