Jordan is England’s Super Over hero as they wrap up thrilling T20 series defeat of Pakistan

Jordan set aside his match figures of 0-39, his team’s most expensive as they tried to defend 154-8, and simply set about bowling as many yorkers as he could in six more balls at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

He was inch-perfect against Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal, conceding only three in the over – just a single off the bat, and two leg-byes – before Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler completed England’s sixth successive white-ball win by taking the four necessary off Afridi to end a two-month tour of United Arab Emirates on a high.

Jordan was not the most obvious choice, until Morgan decided yorkers were the answer – and that he knew who was most likely to get it right.

Jordan has had no previous experience of this tensest of scenarios in limited-overs cricket, but could hardly have made a better job of it at the first attempt.

He said: “That’s the first time I’ve been involved in a Super Over, in any form.

“It’s something we try to work on ... so we can deliver under pressure. I was able to hold my nerve.”

Pakistan had tied the match thanks to Shoaib Malik’s brilliant, career-best 75 from 54 balls and his 63-run sixth-wicket stand with Afridi.

It was Chris Woakes who then kept his cool first, defending 10 runs needed off the final over and having Shoaib caught on the long-on boundary after tailender Sohail Tanvir had clubbed him for a six second ball.

Then, it was over to Jordan, who was not going to let his wicketless figures bother him.

“Everything up to that point doesn’t matter then,” he added.

“I was thinking if I can nail the Super Over and get my team over the line, that’s all that’s important.”

He was ready when Morgan turned to him and told him he was the man.

“I knew it would be one of three guys, and I’d be one of them,” said Jordan.

“Mine came up, and I switched on from that moment.

“I more or less put myself in the position that ‘I’m ready’ – and luckily I was able to deliver.”

Morgan and Buttler then appeared to have an easier task.

But it quickly became clear Afridi was getting significant turn by then, and it went down to the penultimate delivery before the England captain scrambled two more runs still required.

The batsmen got the job done and afterwards Morgan explained why he selected himself and Buttler, and Jordan.

“It was just trying to stay as calm as possible ... that was the reason we went for our most experienced players,” he said.

“Certainly the first one I got turned square, so I’m glad we weren’t chasing any more than four.

“Once we made the decision to bowl yorkers, it was CJ.

“If it was to bowl a skill that somebody else had better, we’d have gone with them.”

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said: “England were faster and fitter than us.

“This is a fitness game, and they are younger and more vibrant.”