Captain Alastair Cook (above) led from the front with a career-best 137 as England secured 260-7 to turn the tables on their Test tormentors, helped in no small part by Steven Finn’s 4-34, which took out Pakistan’s first four batsmen in a damaging nine over spell.
“We got a really good score on the board,” Cook said of England’s reversal of fortunes. “ The way Ravi played, coming in after we lost two quick wickets, was a good knock. He took the pressure off me and I just batted as long as I could. Then Steven Finn and the bowlers made it really hard for Pakistan.”
Pakistan captain Misbah Ul-Haq said of his team’s defeat: “They [England] played wonderful cricket. Their captain led the team by example. Our batting is a matter of concern for us – 260 wasn’t a big score here.”
The second ODI against Pakistan is on Feb 15.
Photo: Getty.
