In Cardiff, after winning the toss, English maiden ODI captain for series against Pakistan, Ben Stokes decided to bowl first. Decision look excellent when Saqib Mahmood got two wickets in first three balls of the match, wickets of Imam-ul-Haq and no. one ODI batsman of the world Babar Azam. For Pakistan, it’s the same old story.
Rizwan, after two blistering boundaries, caught behind. Than came on the crease was the debutant Saud Shakeel, who look quite promising in his style of play. But over the given situation, he was unable to handle the pressure and Pakistan was 26 for 4.
Sohaib Maqsood’s arrival on the crease may also helped the left hander to settle things down. As Sohaib Maqsood joined the party and smashed the ball over deep point for six, Pakistan sailing smoothly. But not so much, the in form batsman was run out in quite Bazzare Pakistani style on call of Fakhar.
Rest tail enders show some resistance but Pakistan all out in just 35.2 overs when there is just 141 runs on the scoreboard.
Saqib Mahmood the stand out bowler for England with four wickets for just 42 runs in his 10 overs quota.
England with the promising start of David Malan and Phil Salt. Pakistan got only one wicket in the chase of 141, while Malan and Crawley took the England quite easily. Both batsmen scored fifties on the chase.
On his brilliant bowling performance, Saqib Mahmood was Man of the Match in 1st ODI of three match series against Pakistan.
