(UTV | UNITED KINGDOM) – A depleted and inexperienced England thrashed Pakistan by nine wickets for a stunning win in the first one-day international in Cardiff.
After a Covid outbreak forced the hosts to name an entirely new squad on Tuesday, England picked five debutants and bowled Pakistan out for 141 in 35.2 overs at Sophia Gardens.
Saqib Mahmood dismissed opener Imam-ul-Haq with the first ball of the match and had Pakistan captain Babar Azam caught at second slip for a duck with the third.
The near full-strength tourists never recovered, with seamer Mahmood – playing his fifth ODI – taking 4-42, Craig Overton claiming 2-23 in only his second match and leg-spinner Matt Parkinson 2-28 in his third.
In reply, debutant Phil Salt edged to slip off Shaheen Afridi for seven, but Dawid Malan and Zak Crawley, another playing his first ODI, eased England to victory with 28.1 overs – more than half the innings – remaining.
Malan finished on 68 not out from 69 balls and Crawley unbeaten on 58 from 50 – the pair putting on 120 from 107 balls.
England take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second ODI at Lord’s on Saturday.
