Pakistan sit 51-2 after 12 overs in Rawalpindi, with Babar Azam anchoring while England's bowlers squeeze hard in the tri-series ODI.
Pakistan have reached 51-2 after 12 overs in their tri-series ODI against England in Rawalpindi, and the contest is shaping up as a tight, tactical arm-wrestle. Babar Azam is unbeaten on 29, with Saad Baig alongside him on 11.
England have kept the scoreboard quiet. Gus Atkinson was given a breather after an opening spell of 5-0-22-1, which gave his side an early wicket and plenty of control. Jamie Overton replaced him, and England's captain Harry Brook will want that kind of aggressive pace to keep the pressure on.
Overton hit the pitch hard straight away. He surprised Baig with pace and bounce, beating the left-hander outside off stump with a delivery clocked at 88mph. The over cost just a single, the latest in a run of tidy overs from the visitors.
The previous over, bowled by Will Jacks, was more productive for the batters. They collected four singles as they began to work him around, though one came off the edge. Jacks bowled from round the wicket and the angle troubled Babar, a reminder that England's spinners are asking questions too.
With Babar settled and England's quicks hitting a rhythm, the next few overs could decide who controls the middle phase. Pakistan need to rotate the strike and avoid a third wicket, while England will keep hunting for a breakthrough.
