It was the ease with which England won that was most impressive. And, perhaps, most daunting for their opponents.

Pakistan had just posted the eighth highest total in their ODI history, after all. And England were without their best white-ball batsman.

Yet, seemingly without breaking a sweat, they recorded the 11th highest second-innings score in ODI history and the equal fifth highest successful chase with 31 deliveries left unused. Only once - in February, when they scored 364 for 4 against West Indies in Barbados - have they successfully chased more. And it looked inevitable within a few minutes of their chase starting.

Some caution is probably required before England supporters' confidence rises too high. It does have to be acknowledged that better sides will not miss the chances spurned by Pakistan in the field. Both Jason Roy and Moeen Ali were badly dropped.

And there are, perhaps, still questions to answer on more demanding batting surfaces. Over the last few years, it has been conditions where their batsmen have been obliged to adapt - most recently in St Lucia, for example - when they have sometimes been found wanting.

But on these surfaces, with fast outfields and short boundaries, England's batting looks capable of chasing almost anything. They have now won their last 16 matches when chasing in England - their last such defeat was in September 2015 - and have set the fastest scoring rate (6.70 runs per over) of any ODI side in a calendar year, albeit one that is only five months old. There have been nine ODI matches in history in which more than 700 runs have been scored; five have involved this England side since the last World Cup.

At the heart of this victory was an opening partnership of 159 in 17.3 overs between Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy. The pair have now recorded seven century opening partnerships in just 26 innings (at a rate of 7.18 an over) with Bairstow scoring a century every 5.1 innings at the top of the order; to put that in perspective, Sachin Tendulkar scored one every 7.60 innings though admittedly over a (much) larger sample size. Only once in their history (when they made 139 against India in Southampton in 2011) have England made more than the 137 they managed here in the opening 15 overs. As Rob Smyth of The Guardian points out, 122 opening batsmen have made 1,000 ODI runs; the two with the best strike-rate are Bairstow and Roy.

And while there were some large sixes and some eye-catching strokes, perhaps the most remarkable thing about this chase was the apparent ease with which it was conducted. While there were a few ramps and scoops as the opening partnership wore on, much of it was built upon conventional strokes. Afterwards Bairstow, who was pencilled in to be rested on Friday but may be forced to play if Eoin Morgan is suspended due to England's slow over-rate, credited the confidence he had gained from performing under pressure in the IPL - and batting with his new friend David Warner - as a key factor behind his sparkling form.

"I genuinely loved the IPL," he said. "You're able to learn different things from different coaches and players. And getting used to playing under pressure and with expectation can only be a good thing.

"Warner has been there for many seasons and been very successful. You've got to be doing something right to have that sort of record. He hits the ball in different areas, but you can learn from game plans and methods.

"It's great to play an innings like that when we were chasing 360. To knock off that many with five overs left is really pleasing. And it's not like we're running down the pitch and slogging or playing ramp shots in the first 10 overs. We're playing genuine cricket shots.

"We're backing ourselves at the moment. We have confidence in the group of players. We had Liam Plunkett scheduled to come in at No. 11 today. At other times Adil Rashid, who has a very good record, is scheduled to come in at No. 11.

"I was cross about getting out. I felt I was seeing the ball well and there was a chance to get 160-170 or to become the first England player to get 200 even potentially. It just shows how well I want to do for this side."

Given the batsmen-friendly nature of the pitch, England could also be pleased with the bowling efforts of Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett, too. But it does seem as if this World Cup will be dominated by the batsmen and, right now, England's are in daunting form.