Jos Buttler celebrates after scoring his eighth ODI century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Jos Buttler walloped a 55-ball 110 to lead England to a narrow 12-run win in a high-scoring affair against Pakistan in the second ODI in Southampton.

The match came down to the wire as Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman put up an incredible fight by smashing a 106-ball 138.

Being put in to bat first, England got off to a superb start as Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow amassed a 115-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before Bairstow was dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi for 51, which came off 45 balls and included six boundaries.

Roy and Root kept the runs flowing with a 62-run stand before Roy was caught by Imad Wasim at mid-on off the bowling of Hasan Ali for a 98-ball 87, which included six boundaries and three sixes.

Root went on to score 40 before he was caught by Haris Sohail at midwicket off the bowling of Yasir Shah.

Buttler and captain Eoin Morgan dominated the rest of the innings as they forged an unbeaten 162-run partnership, during which Buttler surpassed his hundred and Morgan his fifty.

Buttler ended up making 110, which came off 55 balls and included six boundaries and nine sixes, while Morgan remained undefeated on 71, which came off 48 deliveries and included six boundaries and a six.

Thanks to Buttler and Morgan, England finished on 373/3.

Afridi, Hasan and Yasir picked up one wicket apiece.

Chasing 374 to win, Pakistan got off to a brilliant start as Imam-ul-Haq and Zaman put together a 92-run partnership before Imam was caught and bowled by Moeen Ali for 35.

Zaman and Babar Azam kept the scoreboard ticking with a 135-run partnership, during which Zaman cruised past his hundred, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Chris Woakes for 138, which came off 106 balls and included 12 boundaries and four sixes.

Fakhar Zaman raises his bat after bringing up his fourth ODI hundred

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Azam went on to score a 52-ball 51, which included a solitary boundary, before he was caught and bowled by Adil Rashid.

Haris only made 14 before he was removed by Liam Plunkett, while Asif Ali struck a 36-ball 51, which included two boundaries and four sixes, before he was sent packing by David Willey.

With Willey taking out Imad and Plunkett dismissing Faheem Ashraf, Pakistan ended up falling short of their target as they finished on 361/7.

Willey and Plunkett took two wickets apiece, while Woakes, Moeen and Rashid claimed one wicket each.

Buttler was named Man of the Match.