SOUTHAMPTON: England on Wednesday night beat Pakistan by 44 runs on Duckworth-Lewis method after rain stopped play twice in three balls during the 34th over in England’s pursuit of 261-run target in the first of the five One-day Internationals (ODI) at Ageas Bowl here at Southampton. The hosts were 194 for three after 34.3-overs when a heavy shower forced players and umpires off the field. Pakistan chances brightened after the Three Lions suffered a set back in the shape of Joe Root’s run-out. The right-hander’s stay at the crease was curtailed to 72 balls as Pakistan captain Azhar Ali hit the wickets directly when Morgan called for a quick single after dropping the ball on the practice wickets. However, before getting dismissed, Root played his part with a brilliant 61 – his third consecutive ODI fifty. Opener Jason Roy gave England a profound start, scoring boundaries at regular intervals, that gave the hosts an upper hand over Pakistan. He was dropped by Sarfraz Ahmed off Mohammad Amir – a moment that proved to be a game changer. His 56-ball 65 was embellished with seven awe-inspiring boundaries – six fours and a six. The right-handed batsman fell in the 18th over when he danced down the wicket to smoke Mohammad Nawaz over his head only to get caught by Baber Azam at long-off boundary. England lost their first wicket to Umar Gul, who conceded three fours in his first over, during the fifth over when Alex Hales, boasting a batting average of more than 70 since in this calendar year, nicked a short-pitched delivery into first slip’s hands. Azhar initiated the proceedings with left-arm orthodox Imad Wasim despite a heavy cloud-cover. Imad, however, was removed from the attack after he failed to get any spin from the wicket. In contrast to Chirs Woakes, who moved the ball a great deal under sun, Pakistan pacers, Mohammad Amir and Gul, failed to get any lateral movement in the air. Pakistan innings: Opting to bat first after winning a crucial toss on a dry wicket, Azhar kept the tourists’ innings together with a sound 110-ball 82. Sharjeel, who opened his account with a cracking four off Mark Wood in the second over, fell on the 31st delivery of the innings as he attempted to pull the 26-year-old, leaving Pakistan one down for 25. The left-handed batsman hit 16 runs off 15 balls which included three fours. Hafeez, who replaced the 27-year-old, fell in the 13th over when he went for a sweep off Root that landed safely in fine-leg’s hands which saw young Baber Azam join Azhar, who had two lucky escapes as he was dropped twice on 9 by Alex Hales and Jos Buttler. After a calm 42-ball 40, an unlucky Azam was given LBW on Adil Rashid’s delivery. The 21-year-old had nicked the ball before it went on to crash onto his pad, as revealed by the hawk-eye. The right-handed batsman could not review the dismissal as it has been used up by Sharjeel earlier in the innings.