Mahmood strikes as England thrash Pakistan by nine wickets in first ODI
Saqib Mahmood marked his return to England duty with a four-wicket haul as the completely changed hosts put their Covid-19 problems behind them with an emphatic nine-wicket win over Pakistan in the first one-day international at Cardiff on Thursday.
Player of the match Mahmood took an ODI best 4-42 as Pakistan were skitled out for just 141 with more than 14 overs let to bat.
England, the reigning 50-over world champions, finished on 142-1 to go 1-0 up in a three-match series ahead of Saturday’s clash at Lord’s. Dawid Malan was 68 not out ater a run-ball fity. Together with Test batsman Zak Crawley (58 not out), one of five ODI debutants in the England team, he shared an unbroken stand of 120 as a match scheduled for 100 overs finished in a mere 67.1
England were fielding a completely changed XI from their previous ODI -- the first time this had happened to any side in the 50-year history of the format -- ater a Covid-19 outbreak within their existing squad during a recent 2-0 series win at home to Sri Lanka required all 16 players originally selected to play against Pakistan to self-isolate.
In addition, injuries to the likes of fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Olly Stone and wicketkeeperbatsman Jos Butler meant they were effectively without two first-choice XIS.
Yet their ‘C team’ dominated from the moment Mahmood took a wicket with the first ball of the match -- and then dismissed Pakistan captain Babar Azam, the world’s top-ranked ODI batsman, for a duck with the third ball.
Such was England’s command, stand-in captain Ben Stokes bowled just one over despite the World Cup-winner being the most experienced member of the atack.
SENSATIONAL START: England made a sensational start when Mahmood snared Imam-ul-haq lbw with the first ball ater a review ordered by Stokes confirmed the delivery had pitched in line.
Two balls later, Mahmood had a prize wicket when Azam edged to Crawley at second slip, with Pakistan yet to score a run.
And when Mahmood had Pakistan debutant Saud Shakeel lbw for five, the tourists were 26-4 from seven overs.
But Fakhar Zaman counter-atacked to the delight of Pakistan fans in a crowd limited to 2,251 by Welsh government virus restrictions.
The let-handed opener hit several fine boundaries, including a superb straight drive off debutant fast bowler Brydon Carse.
New batsman Sohaib Maqsood, in his first ODI for five years, flat-bated Carse over extracover for six.
But a promising stand of 53 ended in farcical fashion when non-striker Maqsood, lured down the pitch by the advancing Zaman’s call for a single, was undone when his partner suddenly stopped, with James Vince running him out for 19.
Pakistan, restricted to intra-squad rather than tour matches, badly needed the in-touch Zaman to keep going.
However, his innings of 47, including six fours, ended tamely when a miscued cut off leg-spinner Mat Parkinson lobbed gently to backward point.
And when Mahmood had Faheem Ashraf caught behind, Pakistan were 101-7.
England debutant opener Phil Salt -- born in Wales but now with Sussex -- fell cheaply when he edged Shaheen Shah Afridi to first slip.
But Malan made a run-a-ball fity, with Crawley -- following a run of low scores at Test level -- even quicker to the landmark.