Ben Duckett stood tall with a fighting century as England crumbled at the other end to be bowled out for 241 in 46.4 overs against Pakistan in the One-day International tri-series match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.
The visitors’ regular fall of wickets owed much to a brilliant opening spell by Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who finished with figures of 4-46 to leave England reeling at 19-3 inside five overs.
Tom Banton fell for four in the first over, edging Shaheen to Arafat Minhas at slip, before the left-arm pacer removed Joe Root for five, caught by Saim Ayub, in the third over. England captain Harry Brook then departed for one after a mix-up resulted in a run out involving debutant Razaullah and wicket-keeper Saad Baig.
Haris Rauf compounded England’s troubles when Jordan Cox edged behind to Babar Azam for six, leaving the visitors struggling at 52-4 in the 10th over.
Duckett, however, refused to let the innings unravel completely. The left-hander brought up his half-century off 56 balls as England reached 100 in the 20th over, keeping the scoreboard moving with well-timed cuts, drives and sweeps.
He pulled Haris through midwicket for four before launching Salman Ali Agha over deep midwicket for six. Duckett also produced a reverse-hit boundary against Salman and pierced the covers with a crisp drive off Shadab Khan.
At the other end, Sam Curran provided the only meaningful support, counter-attacking with a series of boundaries. He charged down the track to lift Saim over mid-on and later rocked back to dispatch the spinner through midwicket.
The pair added 93 runs for the fifth wicket, taking England from 52-4 to 145 before Shaheen returned to break the stand in the 27th over. Curran, who scored 42 off 52 balls with five fours, top-edged a pull off a short delivery to Salman at fine leg.
Duckett continued to hold the innings together, reaching his fifth ODI century off 104 balls and his first against Pakistan. He struck 105 off 111 deliveries, including 10 fours and two sixes, before Arafat dismissed him in the 37th over, with Salman taking the catch at short fine leg.
England then lost Will Jacks (13) to Razaullah, who took a sharp return catch for his maiden ODI wicket, while Liam Dawson (five) fell to another short ball, caught by Shadab at deep square leg. Arafat also removed Jamie Overton (10), caught by Babar at long-off.
Gus Atkinson offered late resistance with an unbeaten 36 off 28 balls, including three sixes, helping England cross 200. Shaheen eventually ended the innings by dismissing debutant Henry Crocombe for eight, with Babar completing the catch.