ENG vs PAK: England's Saqib Mahmood Strikes As Pakistan Slump To 141 All Out In 1st ODI

Saqib Mahmood marked his return to England duty with a one-day international best of 4-42 as the hosts put their Covid-19 problems behind them to dismiss Pakistan for a meagre 141 in Thursday's se

Two balls later, Mahmood had a prize wicket when Pakistan captain Babar Azam -- the world's top-ranked ODI batsman -- also fell for a duck after edging to Zak Crawley at second slip, with Pakistan yet to score a run.

Mohammad Rizwan had made 13 when he edged a superb, late-moving, delivery from Lewis Gregory to debutant wicketkeeper John Simpson. And when Mahmood had Pakistan debutant Saud Shakeel lbw for five, the tourists were 26-4 from seven overs But Zaman, on a ground where he had made a fifty in Pakistan's 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final win over England, counter-attacked.

The left-handed opener hit several fine boundaries, a four through the covers off Gregory followed by a pull off Craig Overton and a superb drive straight down the ground off debutant fast bowler Brydon Carse.

New batsman Sohaib Maqsood, playing in his first ODI for five years, flat-batted Carse over extra-cover for six. But a promising stand of 53 ended in farcical fashion when non-striker Maqsood, lured down the pitch by the advancing Zaman's call for a single, was undone when his partner suddenly stopped, with James Vince running him out for 19.

Pakistan, restricted to intra-squad rather than tour matches, badly needed the in-touch Zaman to keep going. However, his 67-ball innings, including six fours, ended tamely when he miscued a cut off leg-spinner Matt Parkinson and gave a gentle catch to backward point.

And when Mahmood had Faheem Ashraf caught behind, Pakistan were 101-7. Shadab, dropped on six, checked England's progress before he holed out off Craig Overton.