England beat Pakistan to win 1st ODI

Azhar Ali top-scored for his side with 82 and Sarfraz Ahmed made 55

SOUTHAMPTON: England beat Pakistan by 44 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method to win a rain-affected first one-day international at Southampton on Wednesday.

Victory saw England go 1-0 up in the five-match series. England, initially set 261 for victory, were 194 for three off 34.3 overs when the umpires ended the match after a third rain interruption.

Man-of-the-match Jason Roy (65) and Joe Root (61) effectively sealed victory with a second-wicket stand of 89 in 14 overs. Pakistan, who won the toss, were held to a total of 260 for six in their full 50 overs.

Azhar Ali, the Pakistan captain, top-scored for his side with 82 and Sarfraz Ahmed made 55. Azhar won the toss in the first of this five-match series and elected to bat in what was then bright sunshine.

Sharjeel Khan, carrying on from his blistering 152 in last week’s 255-run win over Ireland, struck three fours in 15 balls. But the left-handed opener fell for 16 when he top-edged a pull off fast bowler Mark Wood and was caught behind by Jos Buttler.

England, whose fielding had proved fallible during a recent 2-2 drawn Test series against Pakistan, then twice dropped Azhar. The series continues at Lord’s on Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2016.