Nottingham, Jun 3 (UNI): Mohammad Hafeez's brilliant 84 off 62, Babar Azam's 63 off 66, skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed's 55 off 44 and Imam-ul-Haq's 44 helped Pakistan post 348 against world No. 1 England here at the ICC Cricket World Cup on Monday.
Earlier, England won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq provided a solid start for the team adding 82 runs for first wicket.
Pakistan's first wicket fell at 82 in form of Fakhar Zaman in the 15th over and then second wicket came in form of Imam-ul-Haq at 111 in the 20th over. Both wickets were taken by Moeen Ali.
Fakhar Zaman 36 off 40 included 6 fours while Imam-ul-Haq 44 off 58 hit 3 fours and a six.
Mohammad Hafeez and Babar Azam further took initiative and carried forward the score to 88 for third wicket. Then Pakistan lost the third wicket of Babar Azam in the 33rd over when score read at 199 when Ali grabbed his third wicket.
Azam's innings ended after 63 off in 66 balls with 4 fours and a six.
After Azam's exit, skipper Sarfaraz Ahmad came in and along with Mohammad Hafeez went on to pile up another excellent partnership of 80 runs for the fourth wicket.
England, who were eagerly waiting for wicket of Hafeez, who was inching closer to century, was stopped by Wood after being caught off at long-off by Woakes as Pakistan lost their fourth wicket in the 43rd over at 279.
Mohammad Hafeez's 84 off 62 balls included 8 fours 2 sixes. Asif Ali also contributed on his part and scored 14 off 11 with one six and had to go in the 47th over after Wood scalped his second wicket.
Then two wickets fell in quick succession in the 48th over first of skipper Sarfaraz and then of Wahab Riaz, both taken by Woakes. Sarfaraz's 55 came off 44 balls.
Pakistan lost its eight wicket in form of Shoaib Malik.
In the last over Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan remained not out scored 10 runs each, while Shadab hit two fours in Woakes spell taking score to 348/8 in 50 overs.
Moeen Ali 3/50, Mark Wood 2/53 and Chris Woakes 3/71, were the wicket takers for England.
Image credit: UNI
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