Mohammad Hafeez’s century helps Pakistan beat England by 6 wickets at Abu Dhabi in 1st ODI:
Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez stitched a 100-plus partnership for the fifth wicket to ensure the win for Pakistan.
England has been defeated by Pakistan by six wickets in the first One-Day International (ODI) of the four-match series at Abu Dhabi. England were chasing a goal of 217 and the four eventually got their without any hiccups in the long run, despite making a stuttering start.
Mohammad Hafeez was the star together with the bat as he scored an unbeaten century, carrying into the briefer format on his kind from the Evaluations. Babar Azam supported him at the other end. Reece Topley had made the early inroads blowing off Younis Khan, Bilal Asif and Azhar Ali .
Hafeez developed an adequate partnership with Shoaib Malik, however he threw his wicket away when he was looking place.
England neglected to make any more inroads after that as Pakistan cruised to a comfortable triumph. This is actually the last ODI match for expert Pakistan batsman Younis Khan, who declared his retirement before the play began. Younis was blown off for nine, which brings an end to a profession, which consisted of seven short tons.
Earlier, Half centuries from James Taylor and Eoin Morgan ensure that England end 236 for 8 in their 50 overs in the first One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan. England were rocked after losing the very first three wickets in quick sequence in the fourth over with only 14 runs on the board.
Jason Roy was removed by Mohammad Irfan off the next ball of the innings for a duck. Alex Hales played with a few great shots however he couldn’t continue long and was blown off for only 10. James Taylor’s skipper Eoin Morgan was subsequently joined by he at the crease and the resurrection in England.
Taylor got on 50 balls to his fifty, whereas Taylor had a more circumspect strategy and he brought up his sixth fifty relatively slower. The pair put 134 runs for the fourth wicket, which got England back into the match up. But they lost wickets in a rush, which further dented their opportunities obtaining a decent score n the panel.
After Taylor and Morgan, Moeen Ali and Jos Buttler fell for single digits. Moeen was dismissed after Babar Azam pulled off a spectacular catch at midwicket.
David Willey and Chris Woakes were given the task of playing out the remaining overs. Woakes played nicely as he was the last guy to be dismissed for 33. Pakistan have fielded exceptionally well through the innings. Vital runs have ceased and also have taken some superb catch. That could prove to be the difference between two teams.
England are without Stuart Broad and James Anderson, that have been rested for the ODI series.
Brief Score card:
England 216 for 8 in 49.4 Overs (Eoin Morgan 76, James Taylor 60; Mohammad Irfan 3 for 35 Anwar Ali 2 for 32) lost to Pakistan 217 for 4 in 43.4 Overs (Mohammad Hafeez 102*, Babar Azam 62*; Reece Topley 3 for 26, Moeen Ali 1 for 32) by 6 wickets.
