Pakistan are 243-3 after 39 overs in their World Cup fixture against tournament hosts England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
After England won the toss and opted to field first, Fakhar Zaman and Imamul Haq opened Pakistan’s innings whereas Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer shared the new ball for the hosts.
Zaman and Imam, after failing in the defeat to West Indies in the opening game, provided Pakistan with a solid start.
The southpaw duo’s strategy early on was to respect Archer and go after Woakes — a plan that worked out pretty well as the tourists were 31-0 after 5 overs and 69-0 after 10.
Runs started to dry up after the introduction of off-spinner Moeen Ali, who also got his side the breakthrough on the opening ball of the 15th over. Zaman (36 off 40) was the one to go; he was out stumped. following which Babar Azam joined Imam in the middle.
After the first 15 overs, the score stood at 85-1, with the run-rate a tad on the slower side but on the bright side, Pakistan still had nine wickets in hand.
The next five overs did not see too much action as the two batters seemed content on keeping their wickets. However, the need to accelerate forced Imam to play take some risk on the first ball of the 21st over. His risk seemed to have paid off, only for Woakes to take a stunning diving catch that he had no business taking. Imam (44 off 58) missed out on his maiden World Cup half century.
Jason Roy, however, returned the favour, dropping the easiest of Mohammad Hafeez’s catches in the 25th over.
