England v Pakistan – 1st One Day International – Match Recap
England 260/7 (50 ov) v Pakistan 130 - England won by 130 runs
England launched their One Day International (ODI) campaign against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imtiaz-Sheikh-c64290 Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
After the 3-0 Test series whitewash by the hands of Pakistan, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 (UAE).
The Poms, after winning the toss, chose to bat first in a bid to post a competitive total on the board against the Men in Green.
Opener, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806 gave their side a decent start of 57 runs, with Cook playing tentatively while Pietersen went after the bowlers.
However, after scoring an innings of 14 runs, the English all-rounder had his stumps shattered by a sensational delivery from Pakistan all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482.
On the next delivery, Afridi, struck again as he knocked out http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373 clobbered a stupendous innings as he tagged along Cook to halt the Pakistan bowling rampage.
The two batsmen hammered the bowlers with zeal and confidence, preventing Pakistan from wrapping up the English innings without letting them post a daunting total on the board.
Finally with 188 runs on the board, England, lost their third wicket when Bopara perished after clobbering a handsome knock of 50 runs.
Pakistan then prevented England’s lower-order from giving a commendable show, however, skipper Cook subdued Pakistan by smashing a resilient knock of 137 runs, as England bolstered 260 runs for the loss of seven wickets.
From Pakistan, spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859 did it once again for his team as he bagged five English scalps, becoming the highest wicket taker in the match.
Pakistan failed to get off to an impressive start as they lost their first wicket with only 11 runs on the board when opener, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898, fell after playing a cameo innings of five runs. Hafeez’s poor form in the ongoing tour should now be of concern for the team management as his poor form as left Pakistan’s upper batting order extremely vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the rest of the batting line-up faltered without giving much of a fight as no one was able to play a big innings.
Opener, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-Farhat-c64218, failed to impressive his critics as he fell cheaply after scoring only 10 runs, while all-rounder Shahid Afridi was the highest scorer from his side with 28 runs to his name as Pakistan fell after amassing only 130 runs on the board.
From England, pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Samit-Patel-c2426 came at second place with three wickets under his belt.
Cook was named as the Player of the Match for his impressive knock with the bat.
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