Sophie Ecclestone starred with the ball to pave the way for an England win [Image: Getty]
Sophie Ecclestone starred with the ball to pave the way for an England win [Image: Getty]

In the first ODI of Pakistan’s tour of England– England emerged victorious with a 37-run win over Pakistan convincingly. After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to field first, aiming to restrict England to a manageable total.

England’s innings commenced with Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier opening the batting under favourable conditions. The openers started cautiously, but it was Nashra Sandhu who made the first breakthrough, trapping Bouchier lbw for 17 in the 9th over.

This early setback brought Heather Knight to the crease, partnering with Beaumont. The duo looked to salvage the innings, but soon Beaumont, who was looking solid with a score of 33 off 40 balls including five boundaries, fell lbw to Umm-e-Hani. This left England at a slightly precarious 61 for 2.

Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt then took charge, aiming to rebuild the innings. Both experienced batters played with determination, mixing caution with aggression. Knight managed to score 29 off 49 balls, while Sciver-Brunt added 31 off 34 deliveries, including four boundaries, showcasing her ability to rotate the strike and find the gaps. However, just as their partnership seemed to gain momentum, Aliya Riaz struck twice in a quick succession, removing both Knight and Sciver-Brunt, which pegged England back to 118 for 4.

At this juncture, Alice Capsey and Amy Jones came together to form a vital partnership. Capsey played a measured innings, anchoring the middle order with a composed 44 off 65 balls. Her innings included three boundaries and was instrumental in steadying the ship. Jones, on the other hand, provided the necessary acceleration, scoring a brisk 37 off 38 balls, nearly achieving a run-a-ball pace, which included three boundaries as well. Their partnership was the backbone of England’s innings, and together they added crucial runs, taking England past the 180-run mark.

However, once this partnership was broken with the dismissal of Jones, who was caught by Ayesha Zafar off Nida Dar’s bowling, England experienced another collapse. Nida Dar’s effective spell in the middle overs was crucial; she claimed three wickets for 56 runs, which included the scalps of Jones, Sophie Ecclestone for 1, and Charlie Dean, who managed a quick 20 off 21 balls. This spell of quick wickets saw England slip from a comfortable position to a less secure 216 for 6.

Despite the late wickets, Sarah Glenn provided some resistance with a short but effective innings, scoring 16 not out off 13 balls with a strike rate of 123.07. Her cameo included vital runs in the final overs, helping England push their total to a competitive 243 for 9. Kate Cross and Lauren Bell also contributed in the lower order, though briefly, ensuring England used all 50 overs.

Nashra Sandhu and Umm-e-Hani were the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, each taking two wickets and maintaining a tight line and length. Sandhu finished with figures of 2 for 41, and Umm-e-Hani with 2 for 43. Their efforts, along with Nida Dar’s crucial middle-over breakthroughs, restricted England from posting a more formidable total.

England’s innings was characterized by several partnerships that provided stability and momentum at different stages. However, the inability to build on these partnerships fully and the regular fall of wickets prevented them from achieving an even higher score. Nonetheless, their total of 243 for 9 set a challenging target for Pakistan, reflecting a balanced effort from both the batters and bowlers in the first innings.

The Pakistani bowlers maintained consistent pressure throughout the innings, with standout performances from Nashra Sandhu, Umm-e-Hani, and Nida Dar. Nashra Sandhu, a key figure in Pakistan’s spin department, played a crucial role in stifling England’s batting lineup. Bowling her full quota of 10 overs, Sandhu was both economical and effective, conceding just 41 runs while picking up two vital wickets. Umm-e-Hani complemented Sandhu with her own impressive spell, also delivering 10 overs for 43 runs. Her disciplined line and length made it difficult for the English batters to score freely.

The standout performer for Pakistan, however, was Nida Dar, who brought her experience and skill to the fore. Bowling 10 overs, Dar took 3 wickets for 56 runs. She broke the promising partnerships and her knack for picking wickets at crucial junctures kept England in check and prevented them from posting a more imposing total.

In reply to England’s total of 243 for 9, Pakistan’s innings began on a cautious note but quickly found themselves under pressure due to early wickets. Lauren Bell made an early breakthrough, dismissing Sidra Amin for just 2 runs in the 8th over, caught by wicketkeeper Amy Jones. This early setback put Pakistan on the back foot, necessitating a rebuilding effort from the middle order.

Sadaf Shamas and Muneeba Ali took on the task of rebuilding the innings. Shamas, showing some resistance, scored 28 off 48 balls, including three boundaries, while Muneeba Ali contributed 34 off 60 deliveries, providing a steady hand at one end.

The partnership aimed to lay a foundation, but their efforts were disrupted by the introduction of Sophie Ecclestone into the attack. Ecclestone, renowned for her accuracy and wicket-taking ability, turned the game in England’s favour with her sharp bowling. She first removed Shamas, bowling her out, and later claimed the wicket of Fatima Sana, lbw for 5. Ecclestone’s figures of 3 for 26 were pivotal, creating a significant dent in Pakistan’s batting lineup.

Lauren Bell, who had already made an impact with the early wicket of Sidra Amin, returned to dismiss Muneeba Ali, who was caught behind by Amy Jones. Bell’s persistent and disciplined bowling had Pakistan struggling at 79 for 3, compounding their difficulties. Ayesha Zafar, who had briefly joined the middle order, fell cheaply for 8 runs to Ecclestone, further deepening the crisis.

With Pakistan reeling, captain Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz stepped up, attempting to recalibrate the innings. Nida Dar, a seasoned campaigner, tried to anchor the innings with her experience, scoring 26 off 38 balls, including three boundaries. Aliya Riaz also added a useful 21 off 32 balls. However, both batters succumbed to Charlie Dean’s clever off-spin. Dean, who bowled with precision, first got Dar caught by Tammy Beaumont and then trapped Riaz lbw, finishing with figures of 2 for 39. This double blow left Pakistan at 149 for 5, with the required run rate climbing steadily.

Despite a determined effort from wicketkeeper Najiha Alvi, who remained unbeaten on 26 off 57 balls, Pakistan struggled to maintain the necessary scoring rate. Alvi’s innings, although composed, lacked the required acceleration to challenge the growing required run rate. The lower order failed to offer substantial resistance, with wickets falling at regular intervals.

Umm-e-Hani and Diana Baig provided brief resistance but could not forge significant partnerships. Umm-e-Hani was bowled by Kate Cross for just 1 run, and Baig, who scored a quick 9 off 8 balls, fell to a catch by Nat Sciver-Brunt off Cross. Nashra Sandhu, remaining not out at the end with 6 runs, could only watch as the wickets tumbled around her.

Kate Cross supported the effort with 2 for 46, delivering key wickets at crucial junctures. Her disciplined bowling ensured Pakistan’s lower order couldn’t muster a fightback. Sarah Glenn, though wicketless, bowled economically, adding pressure on the Pakistani batters.

Pakistan eventually finished their 50 overs at 206 for 9, falling 37 runs short of the target. The disciplined and strategic bowling performance from England, spearheaded by Ecclestone, Bell, and Dean, was instrumental in securing the victory. Bell’s early breakthroughs, Ecclestone’s middle-over magic, and Dean’s crucial strikes ensured that Pakistan could not establish any lasting momentum in their chase, handing England a well-deserved win.

Sophie Ecclestone’s all-round performance earned her the ‘Player of the Match’ award. England now leads the three-match series 1-0, setting the stage for the next encounter. The match highlighted England’s balanced team effort and their effective use of bowling strategies, especially in the middle overs, which ultimately restricted Pakistan to a total well short of the target.

Brief Score: England vs Pakistan 1st ODI

England- 243/9 in 50 overs (Alice Capsey 44, Amy Jones 37; Nida Dar 3/56) beat Pakistan- 206/9 in 50 overs (Muneeba Ali 34; Sophie Ecclestone 3-26) by 37 runs.

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