England continued their One-Day dominance over Pakistan as a fine performance with bat and ball took the tourists to a 14-run victory.

The tourists struggled after losing three early wickets before James Vince (41), captain Eoin Morgan (45*) and Sam Billings (53) lifted them up to a competitive total.

That score proved too much for the hosts, regular wickets and poor running from Pakistan meant they rarely got close to taking the first match of the series.

In a much-changed side from the 3-1 ODI series victory, Jason Roy and Alex Hales continued their blossoming partnership at the top of the order.

However, in tricky batting conditions against the new ball bowling of Pakistan, the pair fell in quick succession.

Hales had received a remarkable reprieve from Sohail Tanvir, the Pakistan seamer dropping the England opener in his follow through on two occasions off the same delivery, before the same bowlers had Roy (9) caught at mid-on.

A leading edge in to the hands of mid-off from the Outlaws man then saw him on his way for eight.

Moeen Ali, up to number four in the order, couldn’t keep debutant Vince company for long, caught at cover without scoring as England slipped to 19-3.

The T20 debutant was joined by captain Morgan, the pair consolidating after the early losses to move the score to 67-3 at the halfway stage.

The Hampshire captain looked in sublime form as he took the attack to Pakistan before his knock of 41 came to an end, bowled by a Wahab Riaz slower ball after he had struck six fours and one maximum.

That set the platform for Morgan and Billings to add 65 in the final six overs, taking England up to 160-5, a decent return after choosing to bat first.

Billings, taking the place of the rested Jos Buttler, in particular impressed, smashing five fours and two sixes on his way to a 24-ball fifty.

Morgan (45*) played a more assured knock around the explosive duo as Billings (53) was ran out off the last ball trying to take a bye to the keeper.

England required early wickets and one of the star bowlers from the ODI series, Reece Topley, obliged as Sarfraz Ahmed lifted the left armer in to the safe hands of Liam Plunkett at deep square leg.

Topley then turned catcher to help Plunkett make a second early inroad, Mohammad Hafeez pulling the ball straight in to the hands of deep square leg, Pakistan two down for 20.

Plunkett, who was playing his first competitive match of the tour, then utilised his extra pace and bounce to dismiss Ratafullah Mohmand, the 39-year-old debutant for Pakistan, caught behind for 16.

Then it was the turn of left arm spinner Stephen Parry to rip through the middle order, first bowling Mohammad Rizwan for six with a loopy off spinner.

Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Akmal wrestled back some momentum for the hosts before, not for the first time on this tour, some shambolic running saw the latter run out for 19.

Having both ended up at the same end after Akmal had found short fine leg with an attempted pull, the third umpire had to be consulted to see who had made ground at the bowlers end first before the bails were whipped off by Billings.

In the same Parry over, Pakistan’s captain and explosive all-rounder, Shahid Afridi, was undone by a slow delivery, caught at cover without scoring.

England’s spin duo of Parry and Ali, with Adil Rashid not used, were ripping through the Pakistan batsmen, Maqsood next to go, stumped by Billings for 24.

Anwar Ali enjoyed some big hits down the ground off Parry (2-33) but he fell soon after, Plunkett (3-21_ grabbing his third, as the late Pakistan challenge tailed off.

Sohail Tanvir clubbed a few boundaries to add to his earlier efforts with the ball but it wasn’t enough, the hosts eventually ending on 146 all out, losing by 14 runs.

England will be looking to secure the three-match series when the two teams meet at the same venue tomorrow, whilst Pakistan will be out to bounce back after a disappointing performance in the first match. 

 

England are returning to the scene of their Ashes triumph in 2016 for Royal London One-Day Internationals against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Don't miss the opportunity to watch some of the best players in the world go toe-to-toe in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge and secure your seats now.