Ben Stokes described England's tour of Pakistan as "perfect", highlighting his side's effort with ball as much as bat after they romped to an eight-wicket win in Karachi.
The captain and all-rounder combined with opener Ben Duckett to chase down the 55 runs required to complete a sweep against the hosts in Tuesday's first session, completing a 3-0 win.
Having won just two Test matches in their previous 30 attempts in Pakistan, England not only made their own history, but also became the first red-ball side to win every game of a three-match series in the country.
It continues Stokes' near-flawless start to his captaincy, less than a year after succeeding Joe Root, and he suggested their success came down to an unshakeable confidence in both sides of their game.
"It has been perfect," he said. "Whoever I threw the ball to, they seemed to deliver. A lot gets said about the way we bat, but the way we applied ourselves with the ball has been top drawer.
"It all comes down to belief. The belief I have in taking the guys out in the field with me. At no point did I not believe in the team and what we are trying to do.
"The confidence everyone has in themselves and the people around them is unbelievable. To be able to lead a group [like that], it is a very special feeling."
With regulars Jonny Bairstow and Stuart Broad missing, several younger players were able to stake their claim on the tour.
After impressing on the T20 tour in September, Harry Brook top-scored with a century in each match and 468 runs overall for the series, while teenager Rehan Ahmed claimed a five-for on debut in Karachi.
Stokes was reluctant to pinpoint individuals, claiming every player "has stood up at some point and delivered some kind of match-winning performance".
But he had no hesitation in highlighting the duo's contribution, adding: "Harry Brook has been unbelievable this series. The amount of runs [he has scored] and the way he has done it is a serious treat to watch.
"Rehan, [at] 18 years old. He is not the finished article but to have that ability to affect the game is exciting going forward for English cricket."
Having not played a red-ball tour in Pakistan amid security concerns since 2005, England's long-awaited return was celebrated by supporters on both sides, and Stokes was quick to thank them all too.
"We have got the best fans in the world, but the people of Pakistan who came out and cheered the game of cricket on, we felt the cricket we played was being celebrated and everyone enjoyed their time," he added.
"We came here to win but we also came to play an exciting brand of cricket and to get people in to watch. I want to say thank you to the people of Pakistan."
Second washout stops England and Pakistan's T20 World Cup preparation
For the second time this series, England and Pakistan saw a game abandoned due to rain, this time at Sophia Gardens on Tuesday.
After their opening game at Headingley was washed out, the teams endured another frustrating day in Cardiff as the umpires called off the third match without a single bowl being bowled.
England’s 23-run victory at Edgbaston on Saturday means they have an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series.
However, Pakistan have one last chance to level things at The Oval on Thursday before both teams head off to the United States for the T20I World Cup in June.
Owen gives Bellingham 'massive chance' of Ballon d'Or success
Michael Owen believes Jude Bellingham has a "massive chance" of winning the Ballon d'Or after a stand-out debut season at Real Madrid.
Los Blancos won their 36th LaLiga title, losing just one of their league games while finishing 10 points clear of second-place Barcelona.
Bellingham ended the league campaign as Madrid’s top-scorer, netting 19 LaLiga goals and added another four in the Champions League to help them on their way to the final.
The attacking-midfielder has also created more chances under pressure (19) than any other midfielder in the Champions League, with four of those resulting in an assist for a Madrid teammate.
Bellingham is due to join up with England for Euro 2024 following the Champions League final as the Three Lions aim to win their first major trophy since 1966.
Bellingham is among the favourites to get his hands on the Ballon d'Or and would be the first Englishman to win it since Owen himself in 2001.
"The Ballon d'Or comes to players who have an exceptional season, not only personally, but who have had a season where they have won something or multiple titles," Owen told TNT Sports.
"If Jude Bellingham goes and wins LaLiga, which he already has done, as well as the Champions League all while being one of the stars of the show in that team, then he has got to be in the conversation.
"A lot will depend on Euro 2024 with England. If he has a good tournament and England go far, then you could rightly say that he has a massive chance."
Bellingham will face former club Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Saturday as Madrid aim to lift a record-extending 15th title in the European Cup.
“We got taught a lesson”: van der Dussen credits Windies for dominant performance in T20I series
South Africa stand-in Captain Rassie van der Dussen gave his West Indian counterparts all the praise in the world after his side suffered a dominant 0-3 defeat in their three T20Is from May 23-26 at Sabina Park in Kingston.
The hosts won last Thursday’s first encounter by 28 runs, their biggest win over South Africa in T20Is, and followed it up with a 16-run win in the second game on Saturday and a dominant eight-wicket triumph in the third match on Sunday.
The skipper put the South African performance down to an inability to quickly adapt to the conditions of the Sabina Park pitch.
“We just couldn’t adapt early enough. Yes, we had a long week in terms of layovers in Miami and so forth. I think we saw that in the first match but you can’t keep making the same mistakes,” van der Dussen said after Sunday’s game.
“I think we just got taught a lesson on how to play in Caribbean conditions, especially from a bowling front. It was a difficult wicket to bat on. I think they just out-skilled us, especially with the ball,” he added.
When asked about positives he could take from the three games, he singled out openers Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks as well as young leg-spinner Nqaba Peter who played the last two games, the first two T20Is of his career.
The 35-year-old, who was left out of South Africa’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, says an adjustment he hopes the team makes with the bat is to take a few more chances up front.
“Maybe just be a bit braver. We saw the way the West Indies play, especially in the power play. They really take it on and when the ball’s newer, it’s easier to score than in the back end when the ball gets soft,” he said.
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