ENGLAND v PAKISTAN 1974

Toss: England. LOI debuts: Pakistan - Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas.

An innings of rare brilliance by Majid Khan hurried Pakistan to a comfortable victory after England had made a formidable score of 244 for four. The game was reduced to 50 overs a side after the start had been delayed ninety minutes by morning rain.

Majid was in such magnificent and commanding form that he needed only 31 overs for his 109, which included one 6 and sixteen fours. Despite batting for lengthy periods in bad light he always had ample time for his strokes, which were made with a casual ease that delighted the 7,000 spectators and left the bowlers helpless.

Sadiq was his willing partner in an opening partnership of 113 that occupied a mere 18.2 overs. When Majid was second out at 187, Pakistan were as good as home and the England bowling was damaged beyond repair. The adjudicator, R. T. Simpson, described the innings as one of the best he had seen.

England, too, had a century maker in Lloyd, who batted throughout the innings of 116, an individual record for Prudential Trophy matches. Lloyd's best partner was Denness and they put on 103 for the third wicket, taking heavy toll of Intikhab, who began with leg spin, but switched to seam in an effort to avoid heavy punishment. Lloyd hit him for six, as did Old, who justified promotion in the order with a rapid 39 while 64 runs were added in 10 overs. But the England batting feats were soon to be overshadowed by Majid, who seized the initiative from the first ball.