Depleted England thrash dismal Pakistan

After a Covid outbreak forced the hosts to name an entirely new squad, England picked five debutants and bowled Pakistan out for 141 in 35.2 overs.

Saqib Mahmood dismissed opener Imam-ul-Haq with the first ball of the match and had Pakistan Captain Babar Azam caught at second slip for a duck with the third.

The near full-strength tourists never recovered, with seamer Mahmood – playing his fifth ODI – taking four for 42, Craig Overton claiming two for 23 in only his second match and leg-spinner Matt Parkinson two for 28 in his third.

In reply, debutant Phil Salt edged to slip off Shaheen Afridi for seven but Dawid Malan and Zak Crawley, another playing his first ODI, eased England to victory with 28.1 overs – more than half the innings – remaining.

Chief scores

Pakistan: 141 in 35.2 overs (Fakhar 47, Mahmood 4/42)

England: 142/1 in 21.5 overs (Malan 68 n.o, Crawley 58 n.o). (BBC)