Daily Times

CARDIFF: Saqib Mahmood marked his return to England duty with a one-day international best of 4-42 as the hosts put their Covid-19 problems behind them to dismiss Pakistan for a meager 141 on Thursday’s series opener in Cardiff.

The 24-year-old Lancashire fast bowler, in just his fifth match at this level and first in nearly a year, took two wickets in three balls in the first to leave Pakistan reeling after England stand-in captain Ben Stokes won the toss.

Only opening batsman Fakhar Zaman, with 47, and Shadab Khan (30) offered much resistance in the first of this three-match series.

And when World Cup-winner Stokes caught Shaheen Shah Afridi to end the innings, Pakistan had more than 14 overs left to bat.

Such was England’s command that Stokes, despite being the most experienced member of the attack, bowled just the one over.

England were fielding an entirely new XI, including five debutants, after a coronavirus outbreak within their existing squad during a recent 2-0 series win at home to Sri Lanka meant all 16 players originally selected to play against Pakistan were forced to self-isolate.

In addition, England were also missing fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Olly Stone and wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler through injury.

But they still made a sensational start when Mahmood had Imam-ul-Haq lbw with the first ball of the match after a review ordered by Stokes confirmed the delivery had pitched in line.

Two balls later, Mahmood had a prize wicket when Pakistan captain Babar Azam — the world’s top-ranked ODI batsman — also fell for a duck after edging to Zak Crawley at second slip, with Pakistan yet to score a run.

Mohammad Rizwan had made 13 when he edged a superb, late-moving, delivery from Lewis Gregory to debutant wicketkeeper John Simpson.

And when Mahmood had Pakistan debutant Saud Shakeel lbw for five, the tourists were 26-4 from seven overs

But Zaman, on a ground where he had made a fifty in Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final win over England, counter-attacked.

The left-handed opener hit several fine boundaries, a four through the covers off Gregory followed by a pull off Craig Overton and a superb drive straight down the ground off debutant fast bowler Brydon Carse.

New batsman Sohaib Maqsood, playing in his first ODI for five years, flat-batted Carse over extra-cover 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 67-ball innings, including six fours, ended tamely when he miscued a cut off leg-spinner Matt Parkinson and gave a gentle catch to backward point.

And when Mahmood had Faheem Ashraf caught behind, Pakistan were 101-7.

Shadab dropped on six, checked England’s progress before he holed out off Craig Overton.