World Cup 2019, ENG vs PAK: Pakistan set mammoth 349-run target; Hafeez, Sarfaraz shine with the bat

Pakistan could set a herculean target on the back of some fine collective batting display by their seasoned veterans Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Pakistan posted a mammoth 348-run total against England in their World Cup encounter being played at the Trent Bridge ground in Nottingham on Monday. Pakistan set up a herculean 349-run target on the back of a fine collective batting display by their seasoned veterans Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Put into bat first, Opener Fakhar Zaman and Imam Ul Haq gave Pakistan the ideal start with their opening salvo. Once leg spinner Moeen Ali got rid of the openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez piled up the runs in the middle order to help Pakistan lay a strong foundation. Skipper Sarfaraz stepped up the ante towards the end of the innings with a quickfire half ton. The English attack was tonked to all parts of the ground at the Trent Bridge. Moeen Ali was the most economical of the English bowlers, ending with impressive bowling figures of 3 for 50. Earlier in the day, England skipper Eoin Morgan won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat on a flat batting deck at Trent Bridge. While Pakistan suffered a humiliating loss to West Indies in their tournament opener, hosts England thumped South Africa by 104 run margin in their first encounter of the showpiece event. Here are the teams: Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w/c), Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(w), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood