England beat Pakistan in rain-hit 1st ODI

 

 

SOUTHAMPTON: Jason Roy overcame a bout of dizziness to inspire England to a 44-run win over Pakistan using the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-affected one-day international on Wednesday, putting the hosts 1-0 ahead in the five-match series.

Chasing 261 to win in Southampton, England was 194-3 after 34.3 overs and well ahead of Pakistan on run rate when rain forced an end to play. Roy scored a 56-ball 65 to get England off to a flying start, while Joe Root hit 61 in England's latest impressive display in the 50-over format.

Roy called for medical attention after feeling light-headed, having run between the wickets after smashing 20 runs from 14 balls. Play was halted for five minutes.

"I had a headache, felt a bit dizzy," Roy said. "They got the physio and the doctor on, they told me to get some sugar on board ... I was able to get my bearings, settle and re-set myself and just go again."

Azhar Ali struck 82 and Sarfraz Ahmed weighed in with 55 as Pakistan was restricted to 260-6 by tight death bowling by England.

The tourists' momentum slowed when rain briefly halted play 42.1 overs into their innings with the score at 218-4. That was the first of three rain delays in the match.

"I think we were 30 runs short," Azhar said. "You always look for 300, but definitely 290. Execution is missing, so we will try to solve that in the next game."

England has now beaten Pakistan in nine of their last 10 meeting in the 50-over format, and ended a run of five straight ODI losses in Southampton.

"I thought we were outstanding with the ball," Roy said, "and it was a great way to start the series."

The second match is at Lord's on Saturday.

The ODI series follows an exciting test series that was drawn 2-2.

BRIEF SCORES

Pakistan: 260 for 6 (Azhar 82, Sarfraz 55) lose to England: 194 for 3 (Roy 65, Root 61) by 44 runs (D/L method).