Pakistan Win Series Opener


By Paul Bakel
June 18 2003

Mohammad Hafeez's career-best 69 helped Pakistan inch a two-wicket victory over England and put them 1-0 up in the three-match NatWest Challenge.

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Pakistan Win Series Opener

Mohammad Hafeez's career-best 69 helped Pakistan inch a two-wicket victory over England and put them 1-0 up in the three-match NatWest Challenge.

Hafeez took 77 balls over his score and hit six fours in his third half-century from 10 one-day international innings.

The opener, dropped on 22 by Marcus Trescothick at mid-on off Andrew Flintoff, eventually became the second of two victims in 11 balls for James Anderson (three for 59) on his home ground.

But Hafeez had done just about enough by then to set Pakistan on course to overhaul England's under-par 204 for nine - which they eventually did with four balls to spare.

Off-spinner Shoaib Malik (three for 26) was Pakistan's most successful bowler as England paid for the lack of a major individual innings, after they had won the toss and chosen to bat first in this day-night fixture.

Six batsmen reached double-figures, but Flintoff's 39 was the furthest any of them got in a lacklustre batting performance from England's new-look side.

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