Pakistan Sports Journal

Akmal brothers scored handy runs but it was not enough to take them home - file photo from web.

It was a case of job well done for England as their imposing total proved too much for a spirited Pakistan chase with Andrew Strauss' team winning the first ODI of the five-match series by 24 runs.

It was an all-round and professional display from the home side who racked up a healthy total of 274 for six on a quality pitch after they were put in to bat by Shahid Afridi.

The start of play was postponed due to a wet outfield with the game reduced to 41-overs each, but when it did get underway the England opening pair of Strauss and Stephen Davies got the home side off to an ideal start.

They were helped by some ineffectual Pakistan bowling with Afridi frustrated by his lack of back-up for Shoaib Akhtar, who beat the bat on numerous occasions in the opening overs and ended with very decent figures of 0 for 28 in his eight overs. The 7ft'1'in debutant Mohammad Irfan was given the new ball but lasted just one over after his opener was pillaged for 15 runs.

Strauss was the early aggressor as he moved the score along at more than a run a ball but Davies soon caught up as the left-handed pair shared a stand of 78 before Strauss (41) was out in the 12 over, beaten for pace by Saeed Ajmal. The wicket did little to stop the rate as Davies raced to his first ODI fifty, reaching the mark in just 37 balls.

While the 24-year old played his strokes, Jonathan Trott(67) kept the scoreboard ticking and the pair added 65 together before Ajmal struck again, having Davies caught behind by Kamran Akmal for 87 from just 67 balls.

Trott, playing the anchor role, went on to reach a half-century of his own and while playing superbly both he and Davies were fortunate to survive chances early in their innnings.
The left-hander was on 21 when he stung Afridi's hands at mid-wicket with the Pakistan captain unable to hang on to a tough chance. Trott was caught, what appeared to be a clear edge to Kamran Akmal not noticed by the umpire when the England number three was on 26.

Trott made the most of his fortune and guided the innings through its most tricky period which saw the wickets of Davies, Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan slow the rate. Just as he was looking to accelerate however he was bowled by Ajmal.

In came Ravi Bopara and though clearly nervous at first the Essex man was able to make the most of his limited opportunity with a couple of lusty blows as he reached 35 not out to pull England up to a very imposing 274 for six.

For Pakistan Umar Gul was particularly disappointing with an expensive six overs going for 67, Saeed Ajmal was the pick of the bowlers, ending with four England scalps.

The visitors made a gutsy effort of their chase with a solid opening stand worth 62 from Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal setting up the innings. Akmal was the more dominant of the two and was at his best as he moved comfortably along to a half century.

However, soon after going to the milestone Akmal perished, becoming Graeme Swann's second victim with tame stroke lobbed up to Stuart Broad.

With the required rate climbing the Pakistan middle order were always under pressure but with wickets in hand and Afridi to come there was still a glimmer of hope. Fawad Alam (39) and Umar Akmal (43) made telling contributions but in the end the chase ran out of steam with Afridi's wicket for 19 the final nail in the coffin.

It was a decent display by England's bowlers with everyone pitching in with wickets. James Anderson was the pick however with 2 for 35 in his nine overs as Pakistan limped to the end of their 41 overs to be left 24 runs short as Strauss' men took a 1-0 series lead.

Andy Flower will be pleased with his team's efforts although there is still room for improvement and four more matches to play in the series. The England coach will have expected victory at Chester-le-Street but what will be particularly pleasing to him will be the competition for places in his squad with Davies putting his hand up and Ravi Bopara having weighed in with a late cameo.
The second match of the series takes place on Sunday at Headingley.