Alex Hales’ first one-day century helps England level series

Hales shared century stands for the first two wickets with Jason Roy and Joe Root

Alex Hales on his way to his first ODI century during England’s 95-run victory over Pakistan yesterday (Getty Images)

Alex Hales’ maiden one-day international hundred carried England to a much-needed, wide-margin, series-levelling victory over Pakistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium yesterday.

England arrived for this second ODI in need of a riposte after their trouncing here two days ago, and they duly delivered to make it 1-1 with two to play – thanks principally to Hales’ 109 out of 283 for 5 after Eoin Morgan won an important toss.

Hales shared century stands for the first two wickets with Jason Roy (54) and Joe Root (63), to give the tourists a perfect platform for the last 10 overs, in which a further 56 runs was below par.

However, that mattered little as Pakistan’s chase never threatened on an increasingly sluggish, used pitch, after David Willey quickly got rid of danger men Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez on the way to a career-best three wickets for 25 runs, while Chris Woakes (4 for 33) did more damage. The hosts were eventually all out for 188 in 45.5 overs, despite a battling 64 from No 7 Sarfraz Ahmed.

Hales hit seven fours and two sixes as he reached three-figures for the first time in this format, from 111 deliveries, at his 21st attempt. Roy’s half-century contained eight boundaries, ending when he speared a drive at Wahab Riaz (3 for 43) to mid-on – but Hales made the most of his opportunity. He offered up was just one half-chance, on 77, between his two sixes in the same Yasir Shah over when he got an under-edge on an attempted cut, and Sarfraz could not hold on behind the stumps.

Root’s half-century contained just three boundaries, and 33 singles, as he fed Hales the strike in a partnership of 114 in 21 overs. When Hales went in the 39th over, neatly stumped by Sarfraz after missing a sweep to give Iftikhar Ahmed a maiden wicket on debut, the onus was on Root to kick on. He and others could not quite manage it against Wahab and Mohammad Irfan’s reverse-swing and changes of pace, Root eventually bowled aiming a mow to the onside.

England’s innings had ended with a comparative whimper, but Willey started Pakistan’s with a bang.

He swung the ball into Babar who, promoted to open in place of the dropped Bilal Asif, went lbw. In his next over he accounted for Hafeez, gone for a duck as he followed a delivery that held its line for a faint edge caught behind.

After Woakes then got both Iftikhar and Shoaib Malik mispulling, England’s victory was already all but assured.

Woakes had his 50th ODI wicket when home captain Azhar Ali dragged on a cutter from wide outside off-stump to make it 50 for 5. For Pakistan, the avoidance of any unwanted new margins-of-defeat records – thanks to a seventh-wicket stand of 65 between Sarfraz and Anwar Ali – was as good as the evening got.