England beat Pakistan by 12 runs to post first win of series

Muscat: England beat Pakistan by 12 runs to win their second ODI of the five-match series and take a 1-0 lead in the tournament.
Jos Buttler’s strong 110 off just 55 balls which featured six fours and nine sixes gave England a strong finish, but in truth, the English had started the game on the right notes, as they finished at 373/3 after their 50 overs.

Pakistan in response could only post a total of 361/7.

Jason Roy scored 87 from 98 deliveries and he was joined at the crease by Johnny Bairstow, whose 51 off 45 gave the hosts an excellent beginning to proceedings. Joe Root contributed 40, and captain Eoin Morgan added another 71 runs to the board.

Only three Pakistani bowlers did pick up wickets: Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Yasir Shah all claimed a wicket each.
In response, Pakistan knew they needed a spirited performance, and Imam Ul Haq and Fakhar Zaman did begin aggressively. Imam was soon dismissed for 35 as Moeen Ali had him caught and bowled, though.

Babar Azam and Asif Ali both added 51 runs apiece to the scoresheet, as they both gave Zaman good company at the crease. Fakhar Zaman would ultimately be dismissed for 138 runs, in a scintillating innings that included 12 fours and four sixes. Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed also chipped in with a solid 41, but in the end, the visitors just ran out of time.

Their tail end – Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali – was quickly dismissed, as England posted their first win of the tournament.

Both Liam Plunkett and David Willey scalped two of the opposition apiece, and Chris Woakes, Adil Rasheed and Moeen Ali all took one wicket each at the Rose Bowl Cricket Ground, after Pakistan had won the toss and decided to bowl.

The two nations’ next game is on Tuesday, 14 May, followed by another on Friday, the 17^th.