Tuesday 30 August 2016 23:13, UK
England should push on and whitewash Pakistan after 'box office' Alex Hales set up a series-clinching victory, says David Lloyd.
Eoin Morgan's men racked up a world record total of 444-3 on the back of Hales' 171 - a record individual ODI total by an Englishman.
Pakistan could only muster 275 in reply and now trail 3-0 in the five-match series with games to come at Headingley and Cardiff on Thursday and Sunday respectively.
"England are dominating and they really should look for 5-0," former England coach Lloyd told Sky Sports. "Alex Hales played brilliantly and the next match can't come quickly enough!
"Hales had the tools to make the most of his home pitch. I know he's been quiet in the first two ODIs but he'd hit a couple of centuries in his last six ODIs; now he's got three.
"He's hit four ODI centuries in a year joining AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock - the guy can play.
"People's opinions get clouded by Test match and one-day cricket; he is very accomplished at one-day cricket. It was exhilarating stuff from him.
"He's confident, comfortable in one-day cricket; he obviously didn't have a clue he'd broken the record but it's an impressive record that he's got.
"He's box office and so confident at the top of the innings; he knows he's arrived and gives England a good start more often than not.
"England played really well right from the beginning on a great pitch; England will say that's near-perfect and have a little look at the standard of their fielding."
England ran amok after the early loss of Jason Roy with Joe Root stroking 85 off 86 balls and Jos Buttler smashing 90 not out off 51 balls, while Morgan weighed in with 57 not out off 27 balls.
"The IPL has been great for Buttler and, again, he's exuding confidence; he knows his own game and enjoys playing with good players around him.
"That thumb injury sent him back a little bit but he's back now and England showed by promoting him to three that they are not rigid - they can change. Buttler was the man to come in at that point.
"Root just played with freedom and gave the strike to Hales and Buttler; he played the perfect foil to both of them."
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali admitted it was a "very tough" chase for his side and also reserved praise for England's batsmen.
Lloyd reflected: "If I was Mickey Arthur I'd write that off and say 'England were far better than us'.
"But I would question the team on energy, intensity and leadership. When you're suffering a drubbing like that you need leaders to get everyone together but we didn't see that.
"Someone like Stokes in the England team drags everyone along; everyone was hiding for Pakistan and saying 'it's nothing to do with me'. That's not good enough."
Watch the fourth ODI between England and Pakistan live on Sky Sports 2 from 1.30pm on Thursday.
