ABU DHABI: Pakistan and England tuned up for their four-match one-day series with comfortable wins against minnows Nepal and Hong Kong respectively in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Pakistan beat Nepal by 121 runs while England thumped Hong Kong by 163 runs in 50-over games to gear up for the bigger challenge starting later this week.

Pakistan put up a strong 326-6 in 50 overs with half-centuries from skipper Azhar Ali (73) and Shoaib Malik 63 while Mohammad Hafeez chipped in with 49 and Babar Azam notched a 29-ball 43 not out.

Younis Khan (38) and Ahmed Shehzad (35) also made useful contributions.

Azhar and Hafeez put on 103 for the second wicket before the Pakistan captain, who hit seven boundaries and two sixes retired, to give other batsmen some practice.

Hafeez knocked three sixes and as many boundaries against some inexperienced Nepalese bowling.

Malik also smashed five boundaries and two sixes.

In reply Nepal could manage 205-5 in their allotted 50 overs with Anil Mandal (61) and Gyanendra Malla (41) making some useful runs.

England rode on aggressive 36-ball 71 by Moeen Ali and 56-ball 64 by opener Alex Hales to post a big 342-8.

Hales and Jason Roy (42) put on a brisk 63 before Joe Root (39) and Jos Butler (38) cashed in on some weak Hong Kong bowling.

But it was Moeen who hit the minnows hard, smashing five sixes and four boundaries in a fiery knock.

Hong Kong were bowled out for 173 in 40.2 overs with paceman David Willy grabbing 4-43.

Babar Hayat 78 and Christopher Carter 34 put up some resistance.

Hong Kong are preparing for the World Twenty20 to be held in India in March-April while Nepal is tuning up for Inter-Continental Cup.

Pakistan take on England in the first of four One-day Internationals in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday followed by the second match, also at the same venue on Friday.

The third one-day will be in Sharjah (Nov 17) and the fourth in Dubai (Nov 20). The sides will also play three Twenty20 Internationals.

Summarised scores:

Pakistan beat Nepal by 121 runs.

PAKISTAN 326-6 in 50 overs (Azhar Ali 73 retired out, Shoaib Malik 63 retired out, Mohammad Hafeez 49, Babar Azam 43 not out, Younis Khan 38, Ahmed Shehzad 35; B. Regmi 2-73); NEPAL 205-5 in 50 overs (A.K. Mandal 61, G. Malla 41, Sagar Pun 39, S.P. Khakurel 26; Anwar Ali 2-56).

England beat Hong Kong by 163 runs.

ENGLAND 342-8 in 50 overs (Moeen Ali 71, A.D. Hales 64, J.J. Roy 42, J.E. Root 39, J.W.A. Taylor 38; Tanwir Afzal 2-40, Nadeem Ahmed 2-58, Haseeb Amjad 2-80); HONG KONG 173 in 40.2 overs (Babar Hayat 78, C. Carter 34; D.J. Willey 4-43, R.J.W. Topley 2-18, Adil Rashid 2-46).

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2015

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