Morgan buoyed by Eng's progress

England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan said he was "excited" by his team's progress in 50-over cricket despite a season-ending four-wicket loss to Pakistan in Cardiff on Sunday.

That defeat meant England had to be content with a 4-1 one-day international series win rather than a first home 5-0 whitewash.

England may still be fifth in the International Cricket Council ODI rankings but they have made significant progress since their embarrassing first-round exit at last year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

And with England staging both the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup, it is no longer fanciful to think they could win their first major international 50-over trophy within the next few years.

"We've been outstanding," said Morgan. "Every game throughout the series, we've come out with a hunger and determination to perform at our best."

"I think it's exciting," he said.

"The attitude and hunger to want to be better playing in that manner, I think, sums up the direction one-day international cricket is going and the talent we have."

But with world number one-ranked Australia also completing a 4-1 series victory away to Sri Lanka on Sunday, Morgan denied England -- beaten on home soil in the 2013 final by India at Edgbaston -- were favourites for next year's Champions Trophy.

"Australia are playing some really strong cricket... South Africa, India as well," said the Irishman.

"I know the last Champions Trophy we played (here), the pitches were a bit drier than we thought, and brought in sub-continent teams.

"I don't think, this far out, you can label anybody as favourites."

Player-of-the-match Sarfraz Ahmed, who also scored Pakistan's first ODI hundred at Lord's in the second match, was the leading overall run-scorer in the series with exactly 300 at an average of 60.

"The way Sarfraz batted, this whole tour he's been exceptional," said Pakistan one-day captain Azhar Ali following a much-needed win.

"He's been positive and scoring good runs at number five, so we've got some good performances but we just need to bind it together."