Unpredictable Pakistan score 348/8 against England

Pakistan looked a different side from the one that surrendered to West Indies in their opening game in the 2019 World Cup as their batsmen put up a clinical performance on Monday to help the team post 348/8 against hosts England at Trent Bridge.

Mohammad Hafeez was the top scorer with a 62-ball 84 as Babar Azam (63 off 66) and captain Sarfraz Ahmed (55 of 44) also scored half centuries. England will need to pull off the highest successful run chase in World Cup history if they are to win this game.

The Pakistan batsmen were bounced out by the West Indies pacers for a meagre 105 in less than 22 overs in their first match on Friday. In stark contrast, it took spinner Moeen Ali to provide the first breakthrough for England after openers Fakhar Zaman (36 off 40) and Imam-Ul-Haq (44 off 58) helped Pakistan stamp their authority early on.

`

Fakhar and Imam put up an opening stand of 82 runs before Moeen drew the former out of his crease in the 15th over with a delivery that drifted in from around the wicket. The turn took the ball past the batsman and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler took the bails off in a flash.

Moeen would go on to dismiss Imam six overs later, thanks to a brilliant catch by Chris Woakes who had to run about 20 yards and dive to his left to complete it at the long off boundary.

However, Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez plundered 88 runs in the next 12 overs before the former became the third man to fall to Moeen. Hafeez then found company in captain Safraz Ahmed as the pair put on 80 runs for the fourth wicket.

While there were no significant partnerships after that, the combined effort of Asif Ali (14), Hasan Ali (10) and Shadab Khan's (10) innings meant that Pakistan finished their essay just two short of the magical 350-run mark.

Joffra Archer, who was the standout bowler in England's first game against South Africa, cut a frustrated figure as he leaked 79 runs in his 10 overs without a wicket. Mark Wood got two while Chris Woakes got three. Ben Stokes, who bowled seven overs, couldn't get a wicket and gave away 43 runs. Adil Rashid bowled five and gave away 43 with no returns.

First innings scoreboard in the World Cup match between England and Pakistan in Nottingham on Monday:

Pakistan

Imam-ul-Haq c Woakes b Ali 44
Fakhar Zaman st Buttler b Ali 36
Babar Azam c Woakes b Ali 63
Mohammad Hafeez c Woakes b Wood 84
Sarfaraz Ahmed c and b Woakes 55
Asif Ali c Bairstow b Wood 14
Shoaib Malik c Morgan b Woakes 8
Wahab Riaz c Root b Woakes 4
Hasan Ali not out 10
Shadab Khan not out 10

Extras (b1, lb8, w11) 20

Total (eight wickets, 50 overs) 348

Did not bat: Mohammad Amir

Fall of wickets: 1-82 (Zaman), 2-111 (Imam), 3-199 (Babar), 4-279 (Hafeez), 5-311 (Asif), 6-319 (Sarfaraz), 7-325 (Riaz), 8-337 (Malik)

Bowling: Woakes 8-1-71-3 (2w), Archer 10-0-79-0 (4w), Ali 10-0-50-3, Wood 10-0-53-2 (2w), Stokes 7-0-43-0, Rashid 5-0-43-0 (1w)

England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Jos Buttler (wkt), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood

Toss: England

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA) and Sundaram Ravi (IND)
TV umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

Agence France-Presse / IANS