Jason Roy admitted a match-winning knock against Pakistan was the last thing on his mind after an overnight hospital trip with his baby daughter.
Roy struck a superb 114 as England sealed the NatWest one-day series 3-0 with a game to spare, fearlessly breaking the back of a 341-run chase.
It was the Surrey opener's eighth international century but possibly the least expected, after family matters took priority on the eve of the match.
Roy rejoined two-month old Everly at hospital after proceedings were wrapped up at Trent Bridge and, while the matter is not thought to be serious, his focus was admirable in trying circumstances.
"It was a very emotional hundred. I didn't see it coming," he told Test Match Special after England's three-wicket win.
"I had a bit of a rough morning so this one is a special one for me and my family. It was my little one. We had to take her to hospital at 1:30 in the morning. I stayed there until 8:30am, came back for a couple of hours sleep and got to the ground just before warm-up and cracked on."
Roy's case might be exceptional but England are making a happy habit of emerging triumphant whatever the situation.
After high-scoring wins in Southampton and Bristol, England were again given plenty to do, with Pakistan posting 340 for seven. Roy's boundary-strewn effort might gave the perfect platform but a wobble of four wickets in 17 balls left the contest hanging in the balance.
The required rate climbed but Ben Stokes emerged as the match-winner, hitting an undefeated 71 to see things through at the business end.
England's stand-in captain Jos Buttler said: "For Ben to soak up that pressure, come through it and be not out at the end will give him lots of confidence. It was great to see him play in that fashion.
"He played fantastically well, we'd played great cricket in the whole game other than four poor overs with some soft dismissals.
"It's great to watch Jason go about his work too. He's been in great form and he was desperate to go on to his hundred. To watch him in full flow is exciting."
Tom Curran also earned a nod from the skipper, showing off the all-round value that is likely to see him into the 15-man World Cup squad next week.
Curran took four for 75 with the ball, including centurion Babar Azam, and made 31 in an important stand with Stokes.
The Surrey all-rounder might have been run out on six had the fielding side or the third umpire correctly spotted that a second direct hit in the same passage of play had dislodged the one remaining bail as he scrambled to make his ground.
"With the bat, with the ball, I love his character. He just wants to be involved in the game, he had a fantastic day," added Buttler.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed confirmed he did not appeal for the Curran run out but was as frustrated with some costly fielding errors as he was with that missed opportunity.
"We had enough runs on the board and if we field well we win this game," he said.
"The coach told me (about the run out). I thought both bails had come out, I hope that if the third umpire seen it on the television he would tell the umpires as well."
