2nd ODI: Hales stars as clinical England beat Pakistan by 95 runs

E-Paper | April 25, 2026

Swashbuckling opener Alex Hales cracked his maiden century to lift England to 283-5 in the second day-night international against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

The right-hander scored 109 off 117 balls studded with seven boundaries and three sixes after England won the toss and decided to bat at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Hales added 102 for the first wicket with Jason Roy (54) and another 114 for the second with Joe Root (63) as England, seeking to level the four-match series after losing the first game, put up a challenging total.

England were off to a confident start on a pitch used for the second match in a row, as Roy and Hales lifted the tempo after the first ten overs.

Roy smashed two boundaries off paceman Wahab Riaz to bring up his third one-day fifty off 53 balls but four runs later miscued a drive and was caught by Shoaib Malik off Riaz who finished with 3-43.

Hales continued in his aggressive style, improving on his previous best of 67 made against New Zealand at Nottingham earlier this year, clobbering two sixes off leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

He successfully challenged Pakistani umpire Shozab Raza's decision of caught behind off Riaz when 48 and paddle swept debutant Iftikhar Ahmed for two to reach the three-figure mark off 111 balls.

He was finally stumped off Iftikhar by Sarfraz Ahmed in the 39th over.

Root added 40 for the third wicket with Eoin Morgan (29) before Riaz returned for his second spell to hit Root's leg stump with a slower one.

Root hit three boundaries off 77 balls.

Jos Butler was cleaned up by Riaz for 11 as England managed just 27 runs in the last five overs.

Pakistan made two changes from the line-up of the first game, bringing in Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar for the now retired Younis Khan and Bilal Asif.

England remained unchanged.

Squads

Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan

England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, James Taylor, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes

Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL) and Shozab Raza (PAK)

Top Reads:

England batting worries Morgan after defeat in series opener | Umar Akmal dropped as PCB announces squad for T20 series against England | England turn to baseball to ‘smash’ Pakistan | Sadiq, Mohsin say Pakistan enjoy edge in ODI series against England | England ODIs key to build side for future: Waqar

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

neutral umpire from dhaka

Nov 13, 2015 04:13pm

england unchanged from last match but result will definately change

Recommend 0

Shahid

Nov 13, 2015 04:44pm

What the hell Waqar? Where is Junaid Khan? Ok so Wasim Akram recommended him does that mean you keep him out forever? Destroying a good bowler.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Nov 13, 2015 05:11pm

@Shahid : Are You serious. Do some news search before commenting. Junaid Khan is out of form after recovering from injury. He needs to prove himself again in domestic for his come back. By the way what is wrong with the currently available bowlers Wahab, Anwar and Irfan. Aren't they doing good on flat dry pitches.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Nov 13, 2015 05:13pm

@neutral umpire from dhaka : How come you claim yourself neutral when you predict something one sidedly and before the match startup.

Recommend 0

Rashid Ishaq

Nov 13, 2015 05:13pm

Worst commentary every by Jeffrey Boycott and Bazid Khan; instead of ball to ball commentary they are discussing irrelevant stuff. They are not even appreciating the bowler, fielder or batsman efforts on particular balls. Such a low class commentary by these both.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Nov 13, 2015 05:17pm

Azhar must try his all bowling options before it's too late. Pakistan will be in trouble chasing 260 plus score that seems to be quite achievable in current scenario.

Recommend 0

Shahid

Nov 13, 2015 05:29pm

@Muhammad Ye im very serious dude. He bowls a proper line and length. In swinger, off cutter, bouncer, yorker. I think its you who needs to do the research, I would compare him to Anderson of England. The current lot are all hit and miss and are not bowling a consistent length, other than Irfan. Im pretty sure that injury to Junaid Khan happened over half a year ago. Trust me I know my knowledge. We live in an age where news changes by the minute, and youre talking about something that happened three tours ago.

Recommend 0

Shahid

Nov 13, 2015 05:31pm

@Muhammad Nice to see you contradicting yourself. I think youve done a bit too much news research. Do you actually have your own opinion? : )

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Nov 13, 2015 06:01pm

@Shahid : Brother the news of his Injury is surely not new but he is currently not in form. That's totally fine if you are still impressed with same Junaid Khan whom we are also impressed when he was performing well but that doesn't mean you start finding conspiracies against anyone on the basis of your own liking and disliking. By the way you didn't answer about the currently playing trio of Wahab, Irfan and Anwar. Do you think they are not up to the mark and must be replaced by someone like Junaid Khan. Please enlighten us with your researched analysis.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Nov 13, 2015 06:08pm

@Shahid : Comparing Junaid Khan with Anderson.... Hmm now on this point I think I should quit. You surely got the much better cricketing Brain dear. Keep it up ;)

Recommend 0

Arshad Hussain

Nov 13, 2015 06:24pm

Hail (Hale) storm been falling on Pakistani Team.

Recommend 0

rayees

Nov 13, 2015 07:24pm

well done

Recommend 0

Strange

Nov 13, 2015 08:40pm

Babar Azam technique looks very bad.. he reminds me indian batsman Sadagopan Ramesh. What he is doing in the team...?

Recommend 0

Naveed,USA

Nov 13, 2015 08:41pm

Why Pakistan experimented with Babar Azam while they have regular opener in Hafeez and Ahmed Shahzad (not playing this match),they did just to give chance to Iftikhar Ahmed,he will who perform at the domestic level,you will induct him in immediately in the team just to disturb the combination?,do try them but give them some time and if your current players don't perform consistently then new Comer should be inducted in the playing eleven.

Recommend 0

Saeed Masood

Nov 13, 2015 09:38pm

Pakistan is doomed from Ball one...that is what the great Mr. Waqar Younis wanted...why did he change Babar Azam to open...now when I am writing this letter ...Pakistan is already five out at 50... No swing only bad batting..Unbelievable shameful...

Recommend 0

Nain

Nov 13, 2015 09:43pm

Test match like batting by Pakistan . reminded me olden days when rameezraja was playing along with salim malik.

Recommend 0

Sadiq Karim

Nov 13, 2015 10:12pm

@Muhammad : I have written in ist ODI Azhar have poor performance and captaincy, he is not captain material, never take pressure & struggling cricket, he is duplicate Tuk Tuk, bcs he have no performance in 2013 dropped than dumped but mafia of waqar, misbah, haroon, subhan, shakil recommended this rusty player for captaincy avoid some talent in line like Junaid, Asad, Fawad, Sarfarz these r young talent cricketer unfortunately pcb do not like on advise of Waqar who all and all high paid coach in world in foreign exchange.

Recommend 0

Who am I

Nov 13, 2015 10:47pm

I knew from the day one that Shane Warne had a different agenda when he joined our practice nets in the UAE. The effectiveness of Yasir is gone since that meeting with Shane.

Recommend 0

Shah, Canada

Nov 13, 2015 11:49pm

Looks like another fixed match...

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Indus Cloud signs strategic partnership agreement with PTCL to deliver cloud excellence

The partnership marks a significant step in Indus Cloud’s and PTCL’s joint efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cloud and data centre infrastructure and expand access to enterprise-grade digital services in the country.