Hales takes on Yasir

Even the umpire, Shozab Raza, looked unconvinced when Alex Hales was adjudged to be caught behind in the 20th over. After a long pause following an appeal for caught behind, Raza lifted his finger with a hesitation that seemed to hint at a lack of confidence in his conclusion. Hales, on 48 at the time, had attempted a short-arm pull off the bowling of Wahab Riaz and immediately reviewed the decision. Replays showed that he had made no contact, but the ball had brushed his trousers on its way through to the keeper. The verdict was overturned and Hales went on to score 109 - his maiden ODI century - in ensuring England achieved a highly competitive total. Another of Raza's decisions was overturned later, when Shoaib Malik, on 4, reviewed a leg before shout that had been given out off the bowling of Adil Rashid.

Wahab bowled beautifully in this game, producing a masterclass at the death to ensure England were kept below 300. But an error in the field cost his side dearly when Joe Root was reprieved on 30. Root had attempted a reverse sweep off Iftikhar Ahmed but, unable to get any power or elevation into the stroke, could only nudge the ball towards Riaz, at cover point. While it was a chance that would probably be taken 80% of the time at this level, Wahab was slow to move to the ball and saw it pass through his hands. Root went on to score 63 and help take the game away from Pakistan.

In many ways, Iftikhar Ahmed experienced an undistinguished debut. Though he bowled nicely enough, claiming the wicket of Hales, he wasted Pakistan's review with a highly optimistic leg before appeal against Root and then, having taken 12 balls to get off the mark with the bat, was able to add just one more run from his final eight deliveries before slapping a short ball to mid on. But this was still a special day for Iftikhar. A week ago he could hardly have dreamed of playing in this game, but then Younis Khan retired unexpectedly and he was flown in from Pakistan to join the squad. He has been in fine form of late: he made an unbeaten 90 from 55 balls against a strong Abbottabad Region attack (containing Junaid Khan and Yasir Shah) in a T20 and then an unbeaten 92 against England in a two-day tour game at the start of this tour. The proud memory of being presented his first international cap by the team manager - and former Pakistan allrounder - Intikhab Alam before the toss should last a lifetime.

It was telling that Pakistan won both Tests in which Yasir Shah played: England's record against legspin is so grim and painful that it should only be viewed by those over 18 and after medical consultation. So it was encouraging here that Hales appeared so confident and so fluent against Yasir. At one stage he hit him for two sixes in an over with the first of them, a sweetly struck slog sweep, carrying well over the boundary at midwicket. For a side with a reputation for confusion and timidity against the turning ball, it was an impressively confident stroke.

With an inexperienced look to the Pakistan batting line-up, it was always likely that Mohammad Hafeez was going to have to produce a sizeable contribution if they were going to get close to their testing target. And, such has been his excellent form of late, few would have put that past him. But David Willey, having planted some confusion in the batsmen's minds with his inswing, took the key wicket with one that pitched on middle and leg, but swung just a little and draw a tentative push from Hafeez. Jos Buttler took the catch and England had an advantage they were never to relinquish.