Pakistan bundled out for 141 in first England ODI

Pakistan Thursday started their one-day campaign against England on the wrong foot as early as the word go in their first one day international in Cardiff, England.

A disastrous start and lack of discipline in the middle order led to Pakistan’s batsmen downfall as they could only last for 35.2 overs and could muster just 141 runs.

Saqib Mahmood took two wickets in the opening over to spark a Pakistan collapse to 26-4 in seven overs as a new-look England put their Covid crisis behind them.

England were fielding an entirely new XI after a coronavirus outbreak within their existing squad during a recent 2-0 series win at home to Sri Lanka meant those originally selected to play against Pakistan were forced to self-isolate.

Their team for the first of this three-match series featured five debutants, with fit-again all-rounder Ben Stokes leading the side in place of Eoin Morgan.

After Stokes won the toss, Mahmood had Imam-ul-Haq lbw with the first ball of the match after a review ordered by Stokes confirmed the ball had pitched in line.

Two balls later, Pakistan captain Babar Azam -- the world's top-ranked ODI batsman -- also fell for a duck when he edged to Zak Crawley at second slip, with the tourists then 0-2.

Mohammad Rizwan had made 13 when he edged a superb, late-moving, delivery from Lewis Gregory to debutant wicketkeeper John Simpson.

And when Lancashire quick Mahmood had Pakistan debutant Saud Shakeel lbw for five with a ball that angled in, he'd taken 3-21 in four overs.

Opener Fakhar Zaman and Sohaib Maqsood gave some to Pakistan and they were started looking threatening when a mix up led to the run out of Maqsoosd. Soon Fakhar also went to the pavilion while chasing a wide delivery and failed to clear the point fielder. He made 47 runs.

Shadab Khan was the second-best run-getter for Pakistan as he scored 30 runs.

For England, Mahmood finished with 4-42, Craig Overton 2-23, Matt Parkinson for 2-28 and Lewis Gregory 1-11.