ENGLAND WIN With 19 runs needed off the final over, Chris Woakes outsmarts Sarfraz Ahmed with a series of wide yorkers. Pakistan's skipper fails to get the better of him and Pakistan eventually lose the second ODI by 12 runs. That England managed to score 373 runs without even being the attacking-self and that Pakistan almost chased it down is enough a worry for all the bowlers heading to the world cup. Their variations proved ineffective today, a day when two centuries and five fifties were registered. Nonetheless, England outpaced the visitors and took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The first ODI was called off due to rain © Getty
Asif Ali becomes the third Pakistani batsman to go past the 50-run mark today. His big-hitting remains the key for Pakistan as the required rate has now gone past the 10-run-an over.
WICKET Even as Asif Ali is going on the attack, wickets are falling from the other end for Pakistan. Haris Sohail falls. Stretching wide outside off, Haris slices the delivery straight to the sweeper cover.
WICKET England have struck again. Babar Azam falls soon after his fifty. Adil Rashid takes a neat return catch. Both the set batsmen back in the pavilion now.
FIFTY! Babar Azam, who was playing the second fiddle in the second wicket partnership with Fakhar Zaman, has brought up a run-a-ball half-century. It has been a good day for the batters and Babar has cashed in on it as well.
Pakistan have gone past the 200-run mark with only one wicket down. But the required rate has swelled to 8.77. Do they have the kind of firepower in their batting that England did in the middle order? Maybe not.
Fakhar Zaman, in quite a style that is not his, has brought up his fourth ODI century- off 85 balls. The southpaw has played a responsible knock so far to help Pakistan set a nice pad for a late assault. Pakistan 168/1, Fakhar 100*.
Against the run of play, Imam ul haq has been dismissed. The southpaw play an innocuous off break straight back to the bowler, Moeen Ali. First wicket for England.
Imam ul Haq and Fakhar Zaman have scored at just above run a ball and brought up their half century partnership. England bowlers have managed to do fairly better with the ball but not with much success.
Fakhar Zaman and Imam ul Haq have walked out to open the innings for Pakistan.
England have raced to 373 for 3 in their 50 overs. It was an innings where Pakistan's bowling attack hardly posed any questions to the hosts. The runs came easy and largely devoid of risks. A few top edges fell in vacant regions but otherwise, it was all going England's way.
Buttler has brought up his 8th ODI hundred with his ninth six of his innings - off only 50 balls - the second fastest by an Englishman. The last 50 runs came off only 18 balls. England are powering to a massive score here.
Jos Buttler has taken little time to get going on fifth gear. Yasir Shah's short-pitched deliveries have helped him. However, in turn, that attack has put Imad Wasim off his lines.
Joe Root, who had got off to a steady start, falls 10 short of a fifty. He pulls a shortish delivery by Yasir Shah straight to the mid wicket fielder. Third strike!
WICKET Jason Roy falls 13 short of a century. He is livid with himself. Looking to play across the line, he fails to time the ball well and hits it straight to the mid on fielder. Hasan Ali with the wicket.
The passing shower has passed. Play resumes without any overs lost
Rain was expected. And rain didn't disappoint. Or maybe it did. 29th over in the innings, play stops. Covers come on.
WICKET Jonny Bairstow falls just after bringing up his fifty. Shaheen Afridi with the strike. Bairstow pulls a short delivery and Fakhar Zaman takes a neat catch at deep square leg
CENTURY STAND Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow have very easily brought up a century-stand. Risk-free cricket. A few nudges, a few there, some good running between the wickets. It has seemed to be a slow day but the runs are coming almost at run-a-ball.
A very characteristic knock by Jason Roy today. 50 off 60 balls. Except a few big hits, it has largely been a knock where he has struggled.
Even as the wicket has been flat and not much assistance for Pakistan's new-ball pair, England have been very conservative with their approach. Quite unlike them. Clearly, the plan seems to be to play long rather than putting the opposition on the backfoot. 31 for no loss in 6 overs.
Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, opening the innings for England, are off to a steady start. No risks taken against Pakistan's new-ball pair of Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf in their respective first overs.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to field. No Jofra Archer in England's XI.
Teams:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w/c), Imad Wasim, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi
England (Playing XI): Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(w), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett
Hello and welcome to the second one-dayer between England and Pakistan. After the first game getting washed off, there are some promising signs for play in Southampton. However, cloud cover and some spells are still expected. Irrespective of how the game pans out and who wins, both teams would desperately want some game time today.
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