The preparations are over and now it is time for the real thing as England signed off against Pakistan with a 54-run win to set themselves up perfectly for the World Cup challenge.

Confidence has surely never been higher going into a global tournament. England won four matches against Pakistan without ever picking their first choice XI, rotated players in every game, and are now unbeaten in 11 series, not counting the one off defeat to Scotland.

The selectors meet on Monday at Lord’s to settle on the final 15 with debate only over which reserve seamer to leave out and whether Joe Denly or Liam Dawson should be the back up spinner. It is a far cry from four years ago when they sacked the captain a few weeks before the tournament and picked a new no 3 the night before the first match.

"I could pick 17 at the moment. It is going to be an extremely tough selection,” said Eoin Morgan. “Every member of the squad has made the decision even tougher. There will be a couple of disappointed men in the next few days but those guys, given the nature of high level sport with injuries and illness, will be called upon during the World Cup."

Morgan is in fine form himself, averaging 164 in this series. His timing and power combined to such an extent a roofer will be in at Headingley on Monday to repair a broken tile on the pavilion. Jason Roy was man of the series with a hundred and two fifties and all the frontline batsman averaged higher than 50. Twice, at Trent Bridge and Headingley, England have lost wickets in clusters but averted a full scale collapse that has been their problem in the past.

Two brilliant run outs and an athletic caught and bowled by Adil Rashid showed the sharpness of their fielding while Chris Woakes found some nip with the new ball to take three wickets before coming back later to wrap up five for 54. Bowling remains the weak link, but England have not picked their frontline attack yet, so there should more to come when the tournament starts.

With the series in the bag, England had the luxury of being able to experiment. Tom Curran and David Willey were picked in a bowl-off for the final seamer’s spot while Morgan opted to bat first to give his side practice at setting a target because he thinks that is what opposing teams will ask them to do in the World Cup.

England took 95 off the first ten overs hitting 17 fours, equalling their most boundaries in a powerplay. Vince was imperious driving on the up but for the second match running he failed to capitalise, pulling a short ball from Shaheen Afridi that ended up in the hands of deep midwicket.

At 222 for two from 29 overs England were coasting to 400 but the turning point was Morgan top edging a short ball that was caught at midwicket. Root walked off angry at himself when he pulled straight to deep midwicket with a hundred beckoning, Jos Buttler played a poor shot cutting to backward point and Moeen was deceived by a good ball from Wasim that Hawkeye proved was hitting middle stump.

This was the tipping point because for all of England’s brilliance with the bat in recent years, they have been prone to meltdowns in dead rubber matches.

Curran is a cricketer on the rise who oozes confidence and appears immune to pressure. His first scoring shot was a scooped six off a full toss, another was belted over long off before the most outrageous shot of the day, the pancake shot, which was flipped over his head and the keeper.

Willey had bowled his way into the World Cup squad when he saved England at the death in the second game at the Ageas Bowl, but since then Curran has come along and edged ahead of him. Willey has not struck enough with the new ball and one for 55 was not enough with his place on the line. While Woakes was cutting through Pakistan’s top order at one end, Willey was finding movement but not outside edges.

Woakes had some luck. Hawkeye had an lbw against Abid Ali shaving leg stump but umpire’s call fell Woakes’s way and Mohammad Hafeez  was given out to a ball that would have gone over the top of the stumps.

The gulf in fielding between these sides has been vast. Pakistan have been hopeless, while England sharp. This was summed up by the remarkable run out of Babar Azam for 80. When Sarfaraz Ahmed dropped a ball from Rashid on the legside, the batsmen considered a run, but Babar was sent back. Buttler’s throw was off target but Rashid intercepted it, pirouetted and threw the ball behind him to hit the stumps.

Sarfaraz took out his frustration on Rashid hitting him down the ground for two sixes, belligerently refusing to give up. But Shoaib Malik prodded a catch back at Rashid, who dived to his left to to hold on one handed.

Sarfaraz was three short of his hundred and still trying to thwart England when fortune favoured England. Buttler anticipated a dab down to third man, stuck out his right leg, picked up the ball and took off the bails before Sarfaraz could ground his bat. He was run out, not stumped, and the game was over despite some entertaining slogging but the last pair.

6:30PM

England win by 54 runs

That's it, 351/9 plays 297 all out, it's 4-0 England in the series and the hosts go into the final stages of their World Cup prep in rude health. Thanks for following this one with us, another excellent performance from England, the problems are all nice ones to have: who to leave out? We'll follow that and we'll have some thoughts about it in the incoming match report I am quite sure. Cheers!

6:29PM

WICKET!  Mohammad Hasnain st Buttler b Rashid 28

Ah but alas all good things come to an end. The sight of the twirlyman was too much for young Mo, he's down the pitch to a flighted one, done like a kipper, Jos has the bails off and that is FOW 297/10

6:28PM

OVER 46: PAK 292/9 (Shaheen Shah Afridi 18* Mohammad Hasnain 24*)       

Our boy has walloped Willey over extra cover for six!

6:21PM

OVER 45: PAK 283/9 (Shaheen Shah Afridi 15* Mohammad Hasnain 18*)     

11 off this over, a hook fine from SS Afridi gets Moeen interested and he makes a top effort with the dive, but cannot cling on. Four for that, Hasnain scores again over cover this time, chalk another four up and charge it to a Mr C Woakes.

9 runs required from 30 balls

6:18PM

OVER 44: PAK 272/9 (Shaheen Shah Afridi 10* Mohammad Hasnain 12*)     

Hasnain connects! Four runs for that, he got hold of that one no problem at all. At this rate of improvement, Pakistan have got a Hedley Verity on their hands, get him up the order.

6:16PM

OVER 43: PAK 264/9 (Shaheen Shah Afridi 7* Mohammad Hasnain 7*)   

Hasnain is in full cry! Gets a safe distance out to the legside (about three yards) and gets out the spider rest to just about connect with those long arms. Four for that, very nicely done.

6:11PM

OVER 42: PAK 258/9 (Shaheen Shah Afridi 6* Mohammad Hasnain 2*)   

Anyway, he's got the taste for it now - he's plundered two singles off just one over. All hail the Hyderabad Headley.

6:08PM

I had not done Mo Hasnain's record justice

He'd NEVER SCORED A RUN in pro cricket.

Four ODIs, an international T20, two first class games, five list A games and nine T20s at domestic level. Admittedly very much a number 11 so you wouldn't expect him to be seeing much of the crease, he nevertheless has come to the bat six times. A splendid record of not troubling the scorers and I for one am a little sad to see him break the habit.

6:03PM

OVER 41: PAK 254/9 (Shaheen Shah Afridi 4* Mohammad Hasnain 0*) 

Hasnain, incidentally, is not on strike: the batsmen crossed in the Ali wicket.  Shaheen Shah Afridi leans back and helps a short one on its way for four.

Willey has a chance to wrap things up now from the other end.

6:00PM

Well bowled Woakesy

And with number 11 Mo Hasnain (ODI career: five matches, zero runs) to come in next, every chance of making that six-fer.

In fairness, he has only had one innings before.

5:59PM

WICKET! Hasan Ali c Willey b Woakes 11

These Pakistan tailenders aren't going to scratch about for the sake of it, it's a shot a ball now, and this shot from Hasan is straight down the throat of the man in the deep to give Woakes his fifth. FOW 250/9

5:58PM

OVER 40: PAK 250/8 (Hasan Ali 11* Shaheen Shah Afridi 0*) 

Another little twist in the Willey-Curran subplot (if indeed that is even in the selectors' minds!) as Willey wraps that over up with four dots. A wicket maiden.

5:57PM

WICKET! Asif Ali c Stokes b Willey 22

Goes for the pull, gets only the splice, shelling peas for Stokes at mid on. Actually, he had to skip back smartly to get in a position to make that look simple. Anyhow, that's all she wrote for Asif Ali. FOW 250/8

5:54PM

OVER 39: PAK 250/7 (Asif Ali 22* Hasan Ali 11*)

Hasan Ali is not here to mess about, he's walloped Woakes for a four and a six. Nearly calamity though when the Alis set off for a run, then change their mind, and Hasan is a few inches away from being run out as Vince's throw shaves the stumps.

5:52PM

OVER 38: PAK 240/7 (Asif Ali 22* Hasan Ali 1*)

Willey back on, Asif sends a bouncer to the ropes, not necessarily one for the coaching manual but a decent enough shot.

5:51PM

Solid stint

from PJ Field there, surely wrapping up the match for England with that blog contribution of four wickets. Tyers here to take you through to close and, surely, a 4-0 England win.

5:45PM

OVER 37: PAK 232/7 (Asif Ali 15*)

Quite the reintroduction for Woakes there. It was a pretty quiet, tidy over before he struck on his last delivery.

Pakistan reviewed it but Snicko picked up the edge and Pakistan are seven down chasing 352.

And with that over, I shall pass back to Al to take things to a conclusion.

5:43PM

WICKET! Imad Wasim c Buttler b Woakes 25

Three with the new ball and now Woakes has a wicket immediately into his second spell.

Pakistan review it but Wasim has to go.

5:38PM

Where we're at....

5:36PM

OVER 36: PAK 226/6 (Asif Ali 11* Imad Wasim 23*)

Moeen's going to bowl out. He's whipped through mid-on by Ali for a single off his first. Tightens it up through the over but then blots his copy book by conceding a boundary through point to Ali.

Moeen Ali finishes with figures of 10-0-63-0

Pakistan require exactly nine an over to win.

5:32PM

OVER 35: PAK 218/6 (Asif Ali 5* Imad Wasim 21*)

England's fielding today has to be applauded. Ali is safely inside his ground but Vince shows incredible speed to pick up on the run at backward of point and shy towards the stumps for a direct hit.

Pakistan scamper between the wickets but it's sixes and fours they need now. Wasim must have heard me, he's just finished off Curran's over with a four.

5:28PM

OVER 34: PAK 208/6 (Asif Ali 4* Imad Wasim 12*)

No runs off the first two and then Wasim turns another to the boundary. Seven off the over.

If you missed it earlier, here's the Rashid run out that started off the flurry of wickets.

5:26PM

OVER 34: PAK 201/6 (Asif Ali 3* Imad Wasim 6*)

Right, after that flurry of wickets, time to revert back to Tom Curran.

Ali and Wasim look to consolidate for a few moments with some singles before Wasim drives down the ground for four.

5:23PM

OVER 32: PAK 193/6  (Asif Ali 1* Imad Wasim 0*)

Heartbreak for Sarfaraz who departs three runs short of his century. He'd just made his highest score since 2016, when England were also the opposition for his hundred at Lord's. I might have to take responsibility for that wicket, I was just writing out that stat when he got stumped. Mockers.

5:20PM

WICKET! Sarfaraz Ahmed st Buttler b Ali 97

When the luck is with you, it's with you...

England have another wicket but you also have to praise incredible fielding again.

Buttler displays his footballing skills to stick out a boot and stop Sarfaraz's poke. The Pakistan captain has already set off though and Buttler picks the ball up and takes the bails off.

5:16PM

OVER 31: PAK 189/5(Sarfaraz Ahmed 94*)

An eventful over that one. 15 runs and a wicket!

5:15PM

WICKET! Shoaib Malik 4 c & b Rashid

Is  Sarfaraz a superstitious guy? He's signalling to the balcony that he needs some attention to his bat, must favour this particular one.

Whatever is wrong, can't be that bad. Because the Pakistan captain has just hit two fours either side of a massive six off Rashid's first three balls.

Oh hang on, Malik has gone at the other end! Superb from Rashid, putting that hammering out of his mind to snaffle Malik low down to his left.

5:11PM

OVER 30: PAK 174/4 (Shoaib Malik 4* Sarfaraz Ahmed 79*)

Sarfaraz continues to lead the attack, getting down early to sweep for four off the fourth ball. That had the umpire quickly jumping out of the way!

Pakistan follow it by running two and another single brings the total to 174/4.

5:08PM

OVER 29: PAK 165/4 (Shoaib Malik 3* Sarfaraz Ahmed 71*)

Sarfaraz has decided to hurry things along, plundering his first 6 in 18 games off the penultimate delivery.

Up until then, it had been very tight from Rashid.

5:06PM

OVER 28: PAK 156/4 (Shoaib Malik 2* Sarfaraz Ahmed 63*)

Good response at the other end from Ali too, with just the two runs. Things starting to look increasingly difficult for Pakistan here.

5:03PM

OVER 27: PAK 154/4 (Shoaib Malik 1* Sarfaraz Ahmed 62*)

Very good over from Rashid there, conceding three runs and running out Babar to break up the developing partnership.

Shoaib Malik the new man at the crease.

5:01PM

WICKET! Babar Azam 80 run out Rashid

Well isn't that a bit of skill there from Rashid! Pakistan set off for a single, Buttler throws towards the non-strikers end. It's wide of the target but Rashid collects, and turning away, flicks the ball towards the stumps. See you later Babar! This time the scoreboard stills on out.

4:59PM

OVER 26: PAK 151/3 (Babar Azam 79* Sarfaraz Ahmed 61*)

A welcome boundary for Pakistan rounds off Ali's over. The England spinner look to have kept things down to five runs but Sarfaraz gets down on one knee and turns it away to the fine leg boundary.

4:56PM

OVER 25: PAK 142/3 (Babar Azam 77* Sarfaraz Ahmed 55*)

Three dot balls and now we're heading upstairs for a potential run out, which looks very safe to me.

Sarfaraz had managed to scamper back after initially going for a single. A quick moment of panic for the Pakistan batsman when the big screen seems to have got stuck on 'out' before changing to 'not out'!

4:52PM

OVER 24: PAK 140/3 (Babar Azam 76* Sarfaraz Ahmed 54*)

It's certainly not the crash, bang, wallop of England's innings but Pakistan are steadily going about their business, rotating the strike. Five separate singles from that set of six.

At this stage, England were 184/2.

4:50PM

OVER 23: PAK 135/3 (Babar Azam 74* Sarfaraz Ahmed 51*)

It's the first six of the Pakistan innings! Babar gets it, slogging Ali over the ropes at backward square. A shake of the head from Rashid. Babar then pushes for another two before a couple more singles rounds off the over.

England have only taken two wickets to spin all series.

4:47PM

OVER 22: PAK 125/3 (Babar Azam 65* Sarfaraz Ahmed 50*)

Babar decides to get things moving, picking the ball perfectly to loft out to mid-wicket for one-bounce boundary off Ali's third delivery.

There's not much happening for the spinners here. And there's the half-century for Sarfaraz too with two runs off the final ball. The partnership is up to 119.

4:44PM

OVER 21: PAK 116/3 (Babar Azam 60* Sarfaraz Ahmed 47*)

Rashid to bowl another set. He only has one wicket in this series to far, but to be fair, he has been plugging away on some pretty flat tracks.

That's a good over though, with just the four singles conceded.

4:42PM

OVER 20: PAK 112/3 (Babar Azam 58* Sarfaraz Ahmed 45*)

My colleague Al opted to take his break at the correct time...with two spinners on England are rattling through these overs.

The run rate is just north of 8 an over.  That final ball boundary off Babar will help the visitors though. Woakes tried in vain to stop it but it trickled into the rope.

4:40PM

OVER 19: PAK 104/3 (Babar Azam 51* Sarfaraz Ahmed 44*)

It's spin from both ends too with Adil Rashid from the opposite end. Can he get more purchase with his leg spin?

The over after Babar brings up his half century (off 59 balls) Pakistan reach three figures with a couple of singles.

Oh no Rashid! His googly gets read by Sarfaraz who smacks it through mid-on to the ropes.

4:36PM

OVER 18: PAK 98/3 (Babar Azam 50* Sarfaraz Ahmed 39*)

C'mon down Mooen Ali...Morgan has decided it is time for a bit of spin in search of the breakthrough.

Babar and Sarfaraz take a single each before the former brings up his half-century with a single towards square leg. Remember Pakistan were 6-3 when he came to the crease. Crucial innings so far.

4:33PM

OVER 17: PAK 94/3 (Babar Azam 48* Sarfaraz Ahmed 37*) 

Thanks Al. It's Stokes to continue after drinks.

And it's a tidy over from Pakistan including a lovely slight of the bat from Sarfaraz, letting the ball glide off the face  to find the boundary. A little tickle to the off side follows for one

Stokes then throws down a wide and Babar picks up another. Ten from the over

4:26PM

OVER 16: PAK 84/3 (Babar Azam 47* Sarfaraz Ahmed 29*)           

Babar nails the ball through point off Curran, a shot to grace any innings. Let's all take a moment to reflect on that while we have drinks, after which interval it will be Pippa Field for a bit.

Pakistan need 268 from 34 overs at a run rate of  7.88

4:24PM

OVER 15: PAK 78/3 (Babar Azam 42* Sarfaraz Ahmed 29*)         

And just five off this over from Stokes. Pakistan have scored 23 off their last five, they cannot afford to take any risks because of those three wickets up top. Basically, they need snookers.

4:21PM

OVER 14: PAK 73/3 (Babar Azam 39* Sarfaraz Ahmed 27*)         

Good stuff this. Curran beats the bat, sticks in a sharp bouncer, backed up by his fielders as they make Sarfaraz dive to make his ground.

4:19PM

OVER 13: PAK 69/3 (Babar Azam 38* Sarfaraz Ahmed 24*)       

This Stokes over goes for four, thanks in part to some splendid work in the covers from Woakes. Aside from all the other good things about England, having fast bowlers who can field is really something nice.

4:16PM

OVER 12: PAK 65/3 (Babar Azam 36* Sarfaraz Ahmed 22*)       

Just one off this Curran over keeps the pressure on nicely after a handy few minutes for the boys in green.

4:14PM

OVER 11: PAK 64/3 (Babar Azam 36* Sarfaraz Ahmed 21*)     

Stokes comes on. Sarfaraz tucks him away for four, fine. Nine off the over. This vital partnership rebuilding well for the tourists but England must surely feel that one wicket and it's job done.

4:07PM

OVER 10: PAK 55/3 (Babar Azam 34* Sarfaraz Ahmed 14*)     

Tom Curran replaces Willey and, if I may channel my inner Nick Knight, you just feel, don't you, that perhaps the selectors are leaning towards Curran rather than Willey. Tom is one of those England cricketers whose face just seems to fit. A large part of this, for me, seems to be to do with how much the big beasts of the TV commentary box rate a player. I remember when he made his Ashes debut, the focus was not on the fact that he took two wickets for 200 runs, but that he "was a very useful cricketer" who "looks the part" and "fits right in" and so on. I'm not saying Willey isn't, or doesn't, but there definitely seems to be some pedigree support for Curran, T.

Anyway, a very useful over that really looks the part goes for 11, bringing the powerplay to an end.

4:01PM

OVER 9: PAK 43/3 (Babar Azam 28* Sarfaraz Ahmed 8*)   

Just three runs off this over from Woakes. An absolute diamond of a cricketer and a thoroughly good chap.

3:55PM

OVER 8: PAK 40/3 (Babar Azam 26* Sarfaraz Ahmed 7*)   

Another over each for Woakes and Willey, another spiffy boundary from the Babe, but not enough singles to really push the score along.

3:52PM

OVER 6: PAK 30/3 (Babar Azam 20* Sarfaraz Ahmed 3*) 

Four shots in the last two overs tell you why some people, and not all of them Pakistan fans, think that Babar should be spoken of in the same terms as the game's big four batsmen. Superb timing, hawk-like eye for length, and economy of effort either side of the wicket as he picks up four fours.

3:41PM

OVER 4: PAK 10/3 (Babar Azam 2* Sarfaraz Ahmed 1*) 

Willey has got the inswinger going, which is ideal for tying up a right hander. It's away swing and width that the righties can get involved with early on. With those three wickets in the bag, all England have to do now is keep it tight and watch the rate climb to intimidating proportions.

3:35PM

OVER 3: PAK 6/3 (Babar Azam 0*)

The second wicket came off the last ball of the second over. Woakes has figures of two overs, two maidens, three wickets for no run.

3:33PM

WICKET! Hafeez lbw Woakes 0

Dearie me, Pakistan. Hafeez back, trying to shovel it, misses and is trapped in front. No need to review this one - that's out! FOW 6/3

3:31PM

In comes

Mohammad Hafeez

3:30PM

WICKET! Abid Ali lbw Woakes 5

That's bad luck for the batsman. Full and straight, Abid has got across and tried to work it away. Hits him on the pad and he reviews right away. Looks to the nakes eye that it is going down leg but he has been given out on the field so the "umpire's call" is good enough. Just clipping leg really so hard lines. Still, it was hitting the stumps, wasn't it? What more do you want (say bowlers) FOW 6/2

3:25PM

OVER 2: PAK 6/1 (Abid Ali 5* Babar Azam 0*)

David Willey does get one to swing, alas it's down the legside. Decent over all told. Abid opens the face for an attractive square driven four.

3:20PM

OVER 1: PAK 0/1 (Abid Ali 0* Babar Azam 0*)

Babar has to block his first three.

3:19PM

WICKET! Fakhar Zaman c Root b Woakes 0

Well it's not a great start to the Pakistan reply! Decent pill, pokes at it, Joe Root snaffles the low chance at second slip. FOW 0/1 And performs a little dance.

3:16PM

England's batting even

endangering the local buildings now: that huge six from Morgan that I mentioned knocked a tile out of a building by the new stand!

Anyway, it is over to the bowlers now...

3:09PM

England have every chance

of defending this, there is plenty of cloud cover at Headingley, which might prompt the ball to swing for Willey, especially.

2:39PM

Pakistan require 352 to win

back in a moment for that.

2:38PM

England score 351/9

England got a flier, and there were brisk and brutal contributions all the way down the card. Pakistan will give thanks to Shaheen Afridi for four wickets that were timely and just about kept England within reach. For a while it looked like 400, but Pakistan are in it, I guess, chasing 352.

2:36PM

OVER 50: ENG 351/9 (Tom Curran 29* Rashid 2*)         

Curran launches a slower ball down the ground for six and now play an outrageous ramp shot over the keeper for four. Get that wrong and it's soup for a fortnight. He gets it spot on, a very handy cameo at the end that has done his World Cup chances no harm, and has pushed England north of 350.

2:32PM

OVER 49: ENG 337/9 (Tom Curran 16* Rashid 1*)       

Willey had smeared a six before his demise, Adil Rashid has come in. I wonder if this flurry of shots down the order will make up the selectors's minds one way or the other? Recency Bias is Tom Curran's friend here I suppose, if he can have a good little finish.

Who would you pick in a team for World Cup edition of Telegraph Fantasy Cricket - 1st prize £5,000.

The three most-selected players so far are Bairstow, Buttler and Kohli.

2:31PM

WICKET! Willey b Shaheen Shah Afridi 14

Willey is, I think, expecting the bumper and hanging back. He instead gets the yorker, it's stumps all over the place time and England are in danger (well, not exactly danger) mild possible threat of not completing their 50. FOW 337/9

2:29PM

OVER 48: ENG 329/8 (Willey 8* Tom Curran 15*)       

Hasan Ali with a six run over, you'll take that.

2:23PM

OVER 47: ENG 323/8 (Willey 5* Tom Curran 12*)     

Curran lands a couple of blows on Pakistan, and maybe on Willey too! Curran gets down for a cheeky ramp shot and dinks it over the keeper for six. Now he drives aggressively and gets a bit of luck as that ball carves away to third man for four.

2:20PM

OVER 46: ENG 310/8 (Willey 4* Tom Curran 0*)     

It's been said that this match is a tiebreaker for a World Cup place between Tom and David.

2:16PM

WICKET! Stokes c Fakhar Zaman b Hasan Ali 21

Stokes goes for the big heave-ho but he's not got hold of all of it. Fun celebration from  Hasan Ali, reminiscent of that Mortal Kombat video game. Stokes foxed by the cutter. Pakistan's catching in the deep has been exemplary, and it's FOW 310/8

2:13PM

OVER 45: ENG 304/7 (Stokes 16* Willey 3*)   

Stokes merrily mullers a couple, England might not quite be on for the Megatron that it looked like they might reach a couple of hours ago but will still be hoping for 340 and perhaps 350 if Stokes can bring it.

2:10PM

WICKET! Woakes c Babar Azam b Shaheen Shah Afridi 13

A change bowling does the trick first ball. Woakes on the back foot, seemingly confused, and he's just sort of donked this back over the bowler's head for a dolly to mid off to pluck a few yards to his right. FOW 295/7

2:06PM

OVER 43: ENG 289/6 (Stokes 8* Woakes 9*)   

I wouldn't mind being the bat supplier to this England team of biffers and bashers. Bairstow needed changes during his innings, now Stokes calls for fresh willow.

Pakistan have woked up. Some smart fielding on the boundary from Asif. England restricted to four in the over.

2:00PM

OVER 42: ENG 285/6 (Stokes 7* Woakes 6*) 

Ooh, dropped! Mo Hafeez the bowler, Chris Woakes the batsman. Chris drills it back at him but Hafeez cannot hold on.

1:50PM

OVER 40: ENG 276/6 (Stokes 2* Woakes 2*) 

Decent bumper from Mo Hasnain, good wheels on it at 88mph. Stokes in a pickle, tries to hook, pulls out of the shot and his bat is hit by the ball as he turns away. Might have gone anywhere, but lands safe.

1:46PM

OVER 39: ENG 273/6 (Stokes 1* Woakes 1*)

England pegged back by two in an over.

1:42PM

WICKET! Ali lbw Imad Wasim 0

And out goes Moeen Ali! Plays back and across, misses it, and is trapped in front. Reviews, rather eccentrically, and that is gone all day long. Pakistan back in the hunt! FOW 272/6 Three for Imad Wasim, decent effort in a series so dominated by the bat.

1:41PM

In comes Moeen Ali

...

1:41PM

WICKET! Buttler c Abid Ali b Imad Wasim 34

Pakistan are clinging on in there in this match, regular wickets knocking over England big boys just when they have been looking really dangerous. More by luck than judgement on this occasion, filthy delivery but Jos has dished it straight to the fielder.  FOW 272/5

All of England's top five scoring between 32 and 84.

1:37PM

OVER 38: ENG 272/4 (Buttler 34* Stokes 0*)

Stokes edges! But it does not carry to slip. A quieter few balls.

1:34PM

OVER 36: ENG 265/4 (Buttler 29* Stokes 0*)

Further pongo for Mohammad Hasnain in the rest of the over, mind you.

1:28PM

WICKET! Root c Asif Ali b Mohammad Hasnain 84

Hasnain has had the treatment so far today, but he now has the wicket of Joe Root to show for his efforts. A top edge ensures that another England batsman leaves without posting the three-figure score that would put this beyond all doubt. FOW 257/4

1:21PM

OVER 35: ENG 255/3 (Root 83* Buttler 20*)   

Imad Wasim continues, and we have the relative clam of a five-run over to take us up to the drinks interval.

1:20PM

OVER 34: ENG 250/3 (Root 78* Buttler 20*)   

Brutal from Jos. He's tennis-shotted that in ridiculous fashion for six.

1:13PM

OVER 32: ENG 238/3 (Root 74* Buttler 12*) 

Shaheen Shah Afridi continues, Jos Buttler is on his way with a brace of nice boundaries.

1:01PM

OVER 30: ENG 224/3 (Root 72* Buttler 1*) 

Cheer up Pakistan, it's only Jos Buttler in next. They say you should double the score from 30 overs. Anyone for 448?

12:59PM

WICKET! Morgan c Abid Ali b Shaheen Shah Afridi 76

Ah shame, no ton today for Morgs. A top edge ends his fun for today. FOW 222/3.

12:56PM

OVER 29: ENG 221/2 (Root 70* Morgan 76*)           

Is this fun? I sort of can't tell, really. England continue to batter the ball hither and yon. It's extremely impressive and it all makes me feel a bit like a Man City fan. Years of total ineptitude don't really prepare you for this. Still, some tremendous shot-making. Imad is sent the distance twice in one over here.

12:43PM

OVER 25: ENG 191/2 (Root 63* Morgan 53*)           

Morgan slams Hasnain for four, and brings up a fifty.

England are going to take some beating in the World Cup, aren't they? Nice to be in a situation where we are debating who should be left out, rather than desperately wondering who we can risk. If you want to sample some of the feelings Ed Smith and Ashley Giles must be having, why not enter our Fantasy Cricket game?

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The three most-selected players so far are Bairstow, Buttler and Kohli.

12:39PM

OVER 24: ENG 184/2 (Root 62* Morgan 47*)         

Here comes Morgan! He has had a look, and now he is raining sixes down on Pakistan. He's hit one absolute monster that has knocked a tile off a roof, he has moved onto 47& off 42 balls and England are having another imposing, commanding day with the bat as we near half way.

12:27PM

OVER 20: ENG 147/2 (Root 52* Morgan 21*)         

Root has reached yet another classy, understated fifty. The scoring rate has slowed to a funereal 7.35,

12:07PM

OVER 15: ENG 118/2 (Root 37* Morgan 7*)       

Morgs is always comfortable to have a look at the start of a knock, and Root has dropped down a gear after a fiery start. Pakistan's spinners get through a few quiet overs.

11:55AM

WICKET! Bairstow c Shaheen Shah Afridi b Imad Wasim 32

But a glimmer of hope for Pakistan? Bairstow joins his opening partner back in the hutch after a brisk and attractive knock that ends up being neither here nor there. He tries to go big off the slow left-armer Imad but has succeeded only in chipping to the big man at long on. Regulation catch. FOW 105/2

11:53AM

OVER 11: ENG 104/1 (Bairstow 32* Root 30*)       

A Root single brings up the England hundred in 62 balls. Woof. England are on for a big one as it stands.

11:49AM

OVER 10: ENG 95/1 (Bairstow 28* Root 25*)     

Root looks at it, and a couple of overs have passed in a flash and a flurry of boundaries from the England Test captain.

11:40AM

OVER 8: ENG 69/1 (Bairstow 23* Root 4*)     

No ball to go with the wide earlier in the over: as I say, a reward for SSA and Pakistan, not sure they really deserve it but James Vince is ever a generous host. Root comes in and is off and running right away.

11:35AM

WICKET! Vince c Fakhar Zaman b Shaheen Shah Afridi 33

Well, readers, you'll never guess: James Vince has got out in the thirties after looking like a million bucks. Short ball, hook, top edge, easy one out in the deep. A long way in from the rope. He had to fetch it from outside off. FOW 63/1

That's a bit of reward for Shaheen Shah Afridi and Pakistan, who had bowled a wide earlier in the over only for Sarfaraz to bungle a regulation bit of keeping to turn one into two.

11:31AM

OVER 7: ENG 56/0 (Vince 28* Bairstow 22*)   

Poor ball from Hasnain, down leg, and poor keeping from Sarfaraz as well. Five wides. Sarfaraz unpacks the first double teapot of the day, and at this rate, it won't be the last. Mohammad Hasnain to Bairstow, crunching shot through the offside, four.

11:27AM

OVER 6: ENG 45/0 (Vince 27* Bairstow 17*)   

England being excellent, and being lucky as well: Bairstow top-edges a pull that could have gone anywhere, but lands safe.

11:22AM

OVER 5: ENG 38/0 (Vince 26* Bairstow 11*) 

England are ridiculously food at ODI batting these days. Vince, of course, is not in the first XI. Mohammad Hasnain comes on and gets some tap.

11:18AM

OVER 4: ENG 27/0 (Vince 21* Bairstow 5*) 

Wide one from Shah A allows Bairstow to get in on the boundary action. One moment of encouragement for the tourists when Bairstow is hit on the pads, but they don't review and I don't think it pitched in line.

11:16AM

OVER 3: ENG 22/0 (Vince 21* Bairstow 1*)

Two more glorious shots from James Vince, well on his way now to his traditional gorgeous but insubstantial 35, as he slots through the covers and then rifles off a crisp pull. As better judges than me have said many times: on shotmaking talent alone, this guy is as good as they come.

Hometown hero YJB has only faced one ball so far.

11:09AM

OVER 2: ENG 14/0 (Vince 13* Bairstow 1*)

Another splendid shot from Vince, again through the covers. Fielder didn't do his bowler Shah Afridi a massive amount of help there, but maybe Imad was not realistically going to stop that whatever.

11:07AM

OVER 1: ENG 9/0 (Vince 8* Bairstow 0*)

James Vince begins with two boundaries! A wide one from Hasan Ali to start with, and that's soon on its merry way to the cover fence, and then an even nicer shot the next ball, a classy force of the ball, hit straighter, and another four.

The penny drops for Hasan after that, and he stops hanging the ball outside off stump and starts swinging it in on a tighter line. No further score in the over.

11:01AM

Pakistan boys

in the huddle. Here come James Vince and Jonny Bairstow, it's James who will be on strike.

11:01AM

Pakistan team

Pakistan: Abid Ali, Zakhar, Babar, Hafeez, Sarfaraz, Malik, Asif, Imad, Hassan, Shaheen, Hasnain.

11:00AM

Telegraph's Michael Vaughan

on the BBC: "the pitch looks great. It's a short boundary towards with the western side of the ground. England are batting first. You have got to expect 350 to be the norm again."

10:59AM

Those England team changes

Eoin Morgan returns to captain England in their final one-day international before the World Cup, opting to bat first against Pakistan at Headingley.

Morgan served a one-match suspension when England sealed the series 3-0 in Nottingham but was back alongside Jonny Bairstow, David Willey and Chris Woakes.

Willey has the biggest chance to make a final bid for a place in the 15-man squad which will be named on Tuesday, with only one of him and Joe Denly likely to make the cut.

10:51AM

Pakistan selection questions

10:49AM

Right then

England will have first use of this Headingley pitch, and hope to unleash their Murderers Row of bats on this Pakistan side for a fourth time in this series. Aside from the rain-ruined non-starter at The Oval, England have scored 341, 359 and 373. They are 3-0 up in this the fifth of five, and will give a run out to a couple of squad members:

England: Jonny Bairstow, James Vince, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt),  Jos Buttler (wk), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid.

10:36AM

BREAKING NEWS

England win the toss and choose to bat.

10:32AM

England vs Pakistan, fifth ODI preview

Ben Stokes admits he is straining at the leash to get England's World Cup campaign under way after steering the side to a series-clinching victory against Pakistan on Friday.

Stokes kept a cool head to see off the tourists at Trent Bridge, making a neatly-timed 71 not out to bring home a last-over win chasing 341.

That put England into an unimpeachable 3-0 lead and although the job is not yet finished - the teams reconvene at Headingley today to wrap things up - the focus is fast switching to the May 30 curtain-raiser against South Africa.

"We were talking about this, I think it might have been last night, how lucky we are as players to be involved in a home World Cup and home Ashes in the same summer, it's very exciting to think about. I just want it to start," he said.

"We wanted to make sure our focus was on this series and not be thinking about the World Cup and we've done a great job so far. We'd love to take the series 4-0 but, whatever happens, it is a clean slate after Headingley and we need to concentrate on the World Cup."

Stokes was in compelling form in Nottingham, building carefully after coming in at a tricky time before then hitting out with five boundaries and three sixes. His timing could not be better with the challenges ahead.

"It's always nice to get some time out in the middle and it's good to take some positives forward with the World Cup just around the corner," said the Durham man.

"As everyone knows, we generally seem to have a stinker somewhere in a series. This could have been that game for us but the confidence we'll take from losing four quick wickets then still finishing off the game will stand us in great stead.

"The most confidence I'll take from that was being there at the end. The one thing I wanted to do and not throw it away when we got to that winning position," he said.

While Stokes' return to prime form with the bat was a welcome development for England, he was again a peripheral part of the bowling attack.

A hamstring injury meant he did not bowl in the latter part of this year's Indian Premier League and he has sent down a total of just 13 overs in the last four games.

He explained he was currently managing discomfort in his elbow, but put that down to an unusually busy time in the field during the second ODI rather than anything more worrying.

"It's nothing, just from too much throwing. I've had it before," he said.

"It's a bit better, the long boundary at Southampton didn't do me any favours. I doubled the normal throwing workload that I'd do in a game. So I'm just resting it."

England face a selection poser for today's game. With the series already in the bag, they could choose to continue their policy of rotating options, but could equally be tempted to give a run out to their first-choice XI.

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With the final 15-man squad due to be named on Tuesday the likes of David Willey and Joe Denly may be looking for clues about their fate.

The pair appear to be the likeliest to miss out and would welcome one last chance to make their case.

One change looks certain at the top of the order, with Jason Roy set to sit out to be with his family.

Roy's two-month old baby Everly was taken to hospital the night before the fourth ODI and although he was able to rejoin the team and score a fine century, the opener is set to sit out with Jonny Bairstow returning. Everly's condition is improving quickly and a return to full health is expected.

Meanwhile, Chris Jordan's World Cup hopes are over for now after the seamer was released from the squad having yet to feature in the Pakistan series.

By Rory Dollard, PA