England collapse after flying start to lose to Pakistan

England began their winter tour with an 87-run defeat by Pakistan in the one-day tri-series in Rawalpindi. Pakistan have now won their first two matches in the competition, while England are due to face Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Put in to bat, Pakistan made 302-9 from 50 overs. Hasan Nawaz scored 79 and Arafat Minhas made 59, helping revive an innings that stood at 133-5 in the 28th over. Nawaz struck a six from the first ball he faced from Adil Rashid. Faheem Ashraf also helped the pair lift Pakistan’s total.

England made a rapid start to their chase of 303, reaching 91-0 inside 15 overs. But missed chances proved costly. With Pakistan 190-5 in the 37th over, Jordan Cox dropped Arafat, who had scored 12 at the time. It was one of three catches put down by England.

The momentum then swung Pakistan’s way. Arafat dismissed Will Jacks and Adil Rashid with successive deliveries, then ran out Gus Atkinson. He finished with six wickets for 40 runs, while Baker took three for 65. England were bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs. Arafat had also trapped Cox lbw for 18 after Cox had already missed two catches.

The defeat comes despite England’s recent progress in one-day cricket: they had won their previous three series this year. Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell were absent. Pakistan, meanwhile, showed a markedly different level at home in this format from the side beaten in the Test series in the UK last month.

England’s next match is against Sri Lanka on Thursday. In the competition, each of the three teams plays the others twice before the top two in the table meet in the final in Lahore on Saturday, 31 October.