Pakistan post imposing total

Pakistan's strong batting line-up led by the burly Inzamam ul Haq and Abdur Razzaq posted an imposing 304 for nine in the first limited overs International against England at Karachi.

After deciding to make first use of a pitch totally devoid of grass, they began aggressively, scoring at the rate of six an over for the first six overs.

Craig White, who was brought on for the seventh over, found a thin outside edge off Saeed Anwar's bat and Pakistan lost their first wicket on 39.

But the stylish Imran Nazir and Saleem Elahi took the total to 87 before England struck the second blow with Mark Ealham having Elahi caught behind and Nazir followed 10 runs later with Andy Caddick uprooting his middle stump.

A century partnership between Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana, from 130 balls, once again picked up the tempo of the Pakistan innings.

Inzamam was in excellent form, driving elegantly on either side of the wicket and cutting with perfect timing. His 71 came from 87 balls.

With Inzamam becoming Ealham's second victim, caught at a squarish mid-wicket, Razzaq led Pakistan's scoring.

Along with the Pakistan captain Moin Khan, he added 48 in just 27 balls for the sixth wicket and while the tail-enders came and went quickly with the help of two successive run-outs, Razzaq scored freely.

He got to his half-century from only 29 balls and continued his hard hitting to reach 75 not out from as few as 40 balls. It included three sixes and five fours.

England's bowlers suffered, conceeding 106 runs in the last ten overs.