Pakistan pull comprehensive victory against England

Pakistan bounced back strongly from a rather baffling defeat against West Indies in their tournament opener, by beating England in a high scoring affair at Trent Bridge on Monday.

The subcontinent contenders, after being asked to bat first, mounted a giant score of 348 runs for 8 in their allotted fifty overs.

Pakistan’s innings was dominated by a flurry of well judged batting display from top orders; three out of top five reached to respective half centuries and rest of the two accompanied well as well.

Mohammad Hafeez made highest score with a 62 ball 84, before and after that, Babar Azam and skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed also slashed fifty knocks.

Some jittery batting from Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan, at the ending phase of the innings pushed Pakistan to stand a very competitive total against the hosts.

The home team started with a startle losing hard hitting Jason Roy as early as in the third over as Shadab brought the desired breakthrough defending the big total.

England lost Bairstow and Morgan within first fifteen overs and before they accomplished hundred runs with Shadab striking one more time quickly.

On contrary to that, Joe Root and Jos Buttler had different mind sets; they bounced back with rock solid aggression throttling English gear high in front of a sell out Nottingham crowd.

Buttler smashed fastest World Cup century for England while Root delivered a less than run a ball century.

Together they put 130 run in the fifth wicket letting the hosts to hope for the second victory. England had the upper hand even after the pair’s dismissal but veteran Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz, utilizing his vast experience, bounced Pakistan sending Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes back in consecutive deliveries.

Pakistan registered 14 run win after England’s innings was ended at 334 for 9 at the end of the fiftieth over of the match.