Pakistan vs England 1st ODI: Hafeez century helps Pakistan thrash England

Pakistan rode on a brilliant unbeaten century by Mohammad Hafeez (102) to defeat England by six wickets in the first one-day international in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Mohammad Hafeez hit a sparkling century to help Pakistan beat England by six wickets in the first day-night international at Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.

The 35-year-old finished with an unbeaten 130-ball 102 to steer Pakistan to the modest target of 217 in 43.4 overs, carrying his batting form from the preceding 2-0 Test series win last week into the limited-overs clash.

Hafeez added 106 for the unbroken fifth wicket stand with Babar Azam (62 not out) and 70 for the fourth wicket with Shoaib Malik (26).

Eoin Morgan and James Taylor hit half centuries for England in a below-par total of 216 all out in 49.4 overs.

Pakistan, just like England, were rattled at the start, as left-arm paceman Reece Topley (3-26) dismissed Azhar Ali (eight), Bilal Asif (two) and Younis Khan (nine) to leave Pakistan at 41-3.

Younis, who before the start of the match announced his retirement from one-day cricket, finished his career with 7,249 runs in 265 matches.

Hafeez and Malik steadied Pakistan to 111 before Malik fell to a reckless shot off spinner Moeen Ali.

Malik, when ten, completed 6,000 one-day runs in his 229th match. He is the ninth Pakistani batsman to score 6,000 or more one-day runs.

Hafeez, who hit 151 in the third Test in Sharjah last week, completed his tenth one-day century off 127 balls. He hit ten boundaries and a six.

Azam also impressed, hitting Chris Woakes for a straight six to complete his second one-day fifty, off just 55 balls. In all he hit four sixes and two fours in his run-a-ball knock.

Hafeez dedicated his hundred to the retiring Younis.

"I want to dedicate this hundred to Younis who has been a role model for all of us," said Hafeez of the senior batsman. "We want to win it for him and I am happy to have contributed in this win."

England skipper Morgan said his side's batting had let them down.

"We were quite a few runs short and with less than 220 on the board, you can't blame the bowlers, so there is a lot to learn and pick before the next game," said Morgan.

England, who won the toss and batted, struggled against Pakistan's bowling led by Mohammad Irfan who took 3-35.

Morgan top-scored with 76 while Taylor made 60 as the pair added 133 for the fourth wicket as the only highlight of the innings.

England got off to a disastrous start when Irfan, the tallest player in international cricket at 7ft 1in (2.16m), produced a sharp delivery to bowl opener Jason Roy with only the second ball of the game.

Joe Root also failed as he fell leg-before to seamer Anwar Ali for nought and it became 14-3 when Anwar forced an edge off Alex Hales (ten) to slip where Younis took the catch at the second attempt.

Morgan and Taylor were left to steady the innings. The England skipper reached his 29th one-day half-century with a sweetly-timed four off spinner Bilal Asif - his eighth 50 in the last 11 matches.

From a well-set 147-3 in the 31st over, England lost four wickets in the space of 14 runs off 32 deliveries with two going to Shoaib Malik.

Morgan hit 11 fours in his 96-ball knock while Taylor smashed two sixes and three fours off 82 deliveries.

Morgan edged Malik to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to start the slide and three balls later Jos Buttler (one) failed to make his ground while taking a sharp single.

Malik removed Taylor in his next over while leg-spinner Yasir Shah chipped in with the wicket of Moeen for seven.

Woakes (33 not out) and David Willey (13) added an invaluable 33 for the ninth wicket to get England past the 200-mark before Irfan returned to take his third wicket in the penultimate over.

Anwar and Malik grabbed two wickets apiece.

The second match will be played at the same venue on Friday.

Having bowled out England for 216, Pakistan cruised home with more than six overs to spare.

Babar Azzam (62 not out) shared in an unbroken 106-run stand for the fifth wicket with Hafeez.

Azzam clubbed four sixes in his run-a-ball knock by Hafeez cracked 10 fours and a six in his magnificent innings.

Hafeez reaches his 11th ODI hundred, his first against England, with a couple off Rashid.

Azam completes his second ODI fifty in style clubbing Woakes for a thundering six.

Pakistan are racing towards their target with Azam flicking a boundary and thumping a six off Willey. Pak 174-4, 37 overs.

Azam gets into the act swatting Rashid for a towering six. Pak 134-4, 28 overs.

Pakistan hold the upper hand at the halfway stage requiring 101 off 150 balls with Hafeez in full cry. Pak 116-4, 25 overs.

Malik perishes lobbing Ali to the short midwicket fielder. Pak 111-4, 24.2 overs.

Shoaib Malik c Roy b Ali 26 (35b 3x4)

Pakistan are cruising with Hafeez in sublime form sweeping Rashid to square leg for a delightful boundary. Pak 101-3, 21 overs.

Hafeez reaches his half century in style pulling Rashid for a massive six. Pak 92-3, 20 overs.

Younis Khan falls cheaply in his final ODI knock pulling Topley straight to mid-on. Pak 41-3, 9.5 overs.

Younis Khan c Rashid b Topley 9 (18b 2x4)

Hafeez stands tall on drives Willey for a straight boundary with a backfoot punch. Pak 31-2, 7 overs.

Younis slaps Copley down the ground for his first boundary. Pak 19-2, 4 overs.

Copley strikes again rapping Bilal on the front leg as he  strides forward with England successfully overturning the original not out verdict. Pak 15-2, 3.2 overs.

Bilal Asif lbw b Topley 2 (7b)

Copley draws first blood trapping skipper Ali leg before. Pak 12-1, 1.5 overs.

Azhar Ali lbw b Topley 8 (10b 2x4)

Azhar Ali clips the first ball from Willey for a boundary as Pakistan begin their chase of 217.

England innings

England are all out for 216 in 49.4 overs with Woakes being the last man out.

Chris Woakes run out 33 (49b 1x4)

Irfan claims his third shattering the stumps of Willey. Eng 213-9, 48.3 overs.

David Willey b Irfan 13 (24b)

A soft dismissal as Irfan strikes with Rashid chipping tamely. Eng 180-8, 40.3 overs.

Adil Rashid c sub (Zafar Gohar) b Mohammad Irfan 7 (13b)

Azam takes a brilliant diving catch at midwicket to dismiss Moeen who attempts to whip Yasir to the fence. Eng 161-7, 35.4 overs.

Moeen Ali c Babar Azam b Yasir Shah 7 (12b)

Skipper Azhar Ali takes a brilliant catch at short midon to send back Taylor. Eng 157-6, 34.1 overs.

James Taylor c Azhar Ali b Shoaib Malik 60 (82b 3x4 2x6)

As so often happens after a big partnership, wickets fall in quick succession with new batsman Buttler perishes attempting a suicidal single. Eng 148-5, 31 overs.

Jos Buttler run out 1 (2b)

Malik breaks the 133-run partnership getting the big wicket of Morgan who attempts to drive only to nick it behind. Eng 147-4, 30.3 overs.

Eoin Morgan c Sarfraz Ahmed b Shoaib Malik 76 (96b 11x4)

Taylor gets to his half century in style skipping out and blasting Malik back over his head for his second six. Eng 143-3, 29 overs.

Taylor hits the first six of the match using his and hoisting Asif back over his head. Eng 130-3, 27 overs.

A century partnership between Morgan and Taylor have seen England recover from a disastrous start to be 115-3 at the halfway stage.

Morgan drags a short delivery from Asif to the midwicket fence to bring up his half century. Eng 86-3, 17 overs.

Morgan reverse sweeps Shah for a boundary to bring up the 50-run partnership with Taylor off 60 balls as England recover from 14-3. Eng 69-3, 14 overs.

Morgan seems to be in good nick driving Ali through the covers for a boundary. Eng 46-3, 10 overs.

Taylor flicks Ali through midwicket for a boundary. Eng 24-3, 6 overs.

Morgan gets going smashing Ali through point for a delightful boundary. Eng 19-3, 4 overs.

England are in dire straits as Hales departs hanging his bat to Ali with Younis pouching it after a juggle. Eng 14-3, 3.1 overs.

Alex Hales c Younis Khan b Anwar Ali 10 (7b 1x4)

Ali strikes a deadly blow trapping Root leg before with England losing the review. Eng 7-2, 1.5 overs.

Joe Root lbw b Anwar Ali 0 (7b)

Hales opens his account by punching Ali down the ground for the first boundary of the match.

rfan strikes with a magnificent delivery to castle Roy with the second ball of the match. Eng 0-1, 0.2 overs.

Jason Roy b Mohammad Irfan 0 (2b)

Eoin Morgan has won the toss and England have opted to bat first.

Playing XI

England: JJ Roy, AD Hales, JE Root, EJG Morgan, JWA Taylor, JC Buttler, MM Ali, CR Woakes, AU Rashid, DJ Willey, RJW Topley

Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Bilal Asif, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan

Retirement

Veteran Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has announced his retirement from one-day internationals, Waqt News reported.

The former skipper will play his last ODI against England in Abu Dhabi.

Younis is one of the most successful players of Pakistan in both ODI and Test match format.

He is Pakistan’s top scorer in Test format. He made a comeback in the ODI squad after being dropped following the World Cup.

Younis, 37, played 264 matches in an ODI career that spanned 15 years. He scored seven hundreds and 48 fifties at an average of 31.34.

Preview

Azhar Ali has warned England's spinners that Pakistan will continue to target them in the upcoming one-day series in the UAE.

Pakistan one-day international captain Azhar Ali wants his side to continue the aggressive approach against England's spinners which helped them prevail in the recent Test series.

The tourists' slow bowlers claimed 20 wickets over the three Tests, while Pakistan's spinners took 35 as the designated hosts claimed a 2-0 victory.

Three of England's spinners - Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Joe Root - have all remained in the United Arab Emirates as part of Eoin Morgan's ODI squad, and Azhar has suggested they could be set for another tough time.

"We'll try to dominate when we are batting, especially the spinners who haven't bowled much in the sub-continent and UAE conditions," said the Pakistan skipper.

"We'll try to capitalise on that and put them under pressure. We have won the Tests, so we want to take that morale into the ODIs and perform like that."

Pakistan welcome Younis Khan back to the 50-over format for the series for his first appearance since the Cricket World Cup, and Azhar is excited to have the experienced batsman back in the fold.

Azhar added: "We welcome him into the team, and he always helps with his spirit. He's a very fit guy, so we hope he can do well and then can carry on. We hope he plays how he has in the past. Younis is a legendary player, and his role has always been important for the team - not only in Tests but also in the one-dayers. His commitment level is great."

Pakistan are intent on avoiding a repeat of 2012 here, when they beat England 3-0 in the Test series but then lost the ODIs 4-0.

On the eve of the first match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Azhar added: “This is also very important for us. We’ve have won the Tests, so we want to take that morale into the ODIs and perform like that.”

Azhar himself had to miss the final match of Pakistan’s series victory in Zimbabwe because of a foot infection and then the first two Tests against England after a family bereavement.

“Our Test team has been the same for the last five or six years, but in the ODI format a lot of new players have come in after the World Cup. I am new as captain, so I hope this team will settle.”

Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), M Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Bilal Asif, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, M Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Amir Yamin, Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah, Zafar Gohar, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz, M Irfan

England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, James Taylor, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett.

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