Pakistan managed to end their 11-match losing streak by shocking favourites England by 14 runs in their group match at the ICC World Cup at Trent Bridge on Monday. Centuries by Joe Root (107) and Jos Buttler (103) took England close to Pakistan's formidable total of 348, but it was not enough to help the hosts cross the line.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan were put into bat by England captain Eoin Morgan, who won the toss. However, Morgan's plans to capitalise on the moisture in the pitch could not materialise as all of Pakistan's top five batsmen went past 30 runs, with three hitting half-centuries.
Openers Imam-ul-Haq (44) and Fakhar Zaman (36) laid a solid foundation for Pakistan, adding 82 for the first wicket. After that, Babar Azam (63), Mohammad Hafeez (84) and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (55) upped the momentum. Hafeez's knock of 84 runs came off just 62 balls, featuring eight fours and two sixes. Interestingly, none of the Pakistan batsmen had a 100-run partnership, though three pairs added 80 runs or more.
England's much-vaunted pace bowling line-up failed to fire against Pakistan. Both Chris Woakes (3 wickets for 71 runs in eight overs) and Jofra Archer, who took 3 wickets for 27 runs against South Africa, leaked runs against Pakistan. Archer went wicketless in his 10 overs, conceding 79 runs.
Sarfaraz opted to open the bowling with leg-spinner Shadab Khan and the move paid rich reward early on as Shadab trapped Jason Roy LBW for eight. Jonny Bairstow reached 32 before being caught behind by Sarfaraz off the bowling of Wahab Riaz. Eoin Morgan (9) and Ben Stokes (13), the hero of the match against South Africa, did not trouble Pakistan much, falling to the part-time spin of Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, respectively.
Buttler joined Root after the fourth England wicket fell with the score at 118. The duo added 130 runs at a frenetic pace off just 18 overs. Buttler scored his 103 off just 76 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes. However, both batsmen fell quickly after reaching their hundreds, leaving too much to do for the England lower order. Pakistan pace bowler Mohammed Amir took two wickets for 67 runs, while Riaz took three wickets for 82 runs.
Hafeez was the man of the match for his all-round performance: a knock of 84, the wicket of Morgan and a catch off the bowling of Shadab Khan to dismiss Root.
