LORDS: The second century of Sarfraz Ahmed’s ODI career has helped Pakistan to something approaching a competitive score at Lord’s. Sarfraz, who also made a half-century in the first ODI in Southampton, came to the crease with his side reeling on 2 for 3 after 19 deliveries. But with a calm head, some deft placement and a lot of excellent running between the wickets, Sarfraz gave his bowlers something to defend, though England will be much the happier of the sides at the halfway stage of the game. It was Sarfraz’s highest ODI score – overtaking his unbeaten 101 against Ireland at Adelaide during the 2015 World Cup – and the highest score made by a Pakistan wicketkeeper in an ODI in England. It was also the first century by a Pakistan batsman in an ODI at Lord’s. The previous highest was 88, made by Mohammad Yousuf against Australia in 2004. Pakistan never fully recovered from their wretched start. Electing to bat on a green surface – a decision that pleased Eoin Morgan, the England captain, who admitted he would have chosen to bowl first anyway – Pakistan’s first three batsmen could only manage one run between them. If Sami Aslam could count himself slightly unfortunate to be given out caught behind down the leg side – the on-field umpire, Marais Erasmus, originally gave him not out, but the TV umpire, Simon Fry overruled on the basis of a spike in the snickometer even though there was no hot-spot – the other two batsmen were the recipients of fine deliveries. Mark Wood produced a beauty, pitching outside leg stump and swinging late, to take the off stump of Sharjeel Khan, before Chris Woakes bowled one that nipped away down the slope and bounced to take the edge of Azhar Ali’s bat. Babar Azam helped Sarfraz rebuild. The pair added 64 in 10.3 overs for the fourth wicket, with Babar taking successive boundaries off Woakes, the second of them a sweetly timed cover drive, and Sarfraz taking a couple of boundaries off Wood – once driving an over-pitched ball and once pulling a short one. But with Liam Plunkett dismissing Babar with a full ball – the batsman was somewhat unfortunate to squeeze the ball onto his boot and then see it roll back onto the stumps – Pakistan were obliged to rebuild once more. They could not pick up a boundary for almost 11 overs once the field went back at the start of the second Powerplay. While Shoaib Malik skipped down the pitch and drove Moeen Ali’s second delivery for six, the reintroduction of Wood brought the breakthrough. Gaining steep lift and movement from a back-of-a-length delivery, Wood took the edge of Shoaib’s bat to leave Pakistan in trouble once more at 125 for 5 in the 27th over. But Imad Wasim gave Sarfraz steadfast support and, in making his highest ODI score to date, helped add 77 in 16.3 overs for the sixth wicket. While Imad started slowly – his first 17 deliveries brought only three runs – he accelerated nicely once he had settled and took 14 off three deliveries from Plunkett – a slashed six over point followed by two driven fours – at one stage. Sarfraz was reprieved by the TV umpire, Fry, on 102 after Erasmus had adjudged him leg before to a Plunkett slower ball. But he was unable to take advantage and succumbed to a catch on the midwicket boundary as he attempted a slog-sweep in the following over. While Hasan Ali was caught in the deep – Joe Root looked in some pain after colliding with Adil Rashid in taking the catch, but was able to continue after treatment on his shins – and Wahab Riaz was brilliantly caught by Plunkett, flinging himself to his left at mid-off, Imad helped Pakistan take their total above 250. A mix-up between Imad and Mohammad Amir left both batsmen at the same end and saw the Pakistan innings come to a close with a ball of their 50 overs unused. And while their total looks under par on a good batting surface, it represents a decent effort for a side that was 2 for 3 at one stage. Earlier Pakistan made three changes to the side that lost the first ODI in Southampton. Mohammad Hafeez was replaced by Aslam, Mohammad Nawaz was replaced by Yasir Shah and Umar Gul was replaced by Hasan. The out-of-form Hafeez is reported to have a knee injury that may result in his early departure from the tour. England named an unchanged XI. They are unbeaten in ODIs this summer, but haven’t won an ODI at Lord’s since 2012. This article originally appeared in ESPNcricinfo