England reaches 260-7 against Pakistan in 1st ODI
Updated: February 13, 2012, 10:06
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates(AP) England captain Alastair Cook scored a career high one-day total of 137 on Monday, but his side was restricted to 260-7 as Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal picked up five wickets in the first of a four-match ODI series at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Cook's total, which came in 142 balls and was helped by 14 boundaries, was only his third three-figure mark in 42 ODIs.
England was heading toward the 300 mark at 188-2, but Ajmal, who claimed 24 wickets in the recent three-test series, applied the brakes.
Ajmal picked up 5-43 while Shahid Afridi took two wickets in as many balls earlier in the innings, as England continued to struggle against the spinners.
Cook and Ravi Bopara starred in a 131-run stand for the third wicket after England won the toss and elected to bat. Cook and Kevin Pietersen had put on 57 for the first wicket but the latter fell when he was totally outfoxed by a Afridi googly for 14.
Afridi, who is only playing in Pakistan's one-day matches, then struck in his very next ball to leave Jonathan Trott groping forward as the delivery struck his off-stump.
However, Cook and Bopara soon settled down and the England skipper took the attack to Afridi, hitting him for five boundaries.
Soon after, Cook completed his century, Bopara reached his 50 but was dismissed when he rushed out to Ajmal and was stumped at the same score.
Eoin Morgan's poor run continued when he lasted for just eight balls before being trapped leg before by Ajmal. The man-of-the-series in Pakistan's 3-0 rout of England in the tests picked up his third wicket when Craig Kieswetter top-edged the spinner for nine to leave Cook fighting at the other end.
Cook finally perished when he tried to sweep Ajmal and soon England's tormentor got his fifth when he sent back Stuart Broad for one run.
Samit Patel and Graeme Swann put on another 28 runs for the unfinished eighth wicket stand as England put on a late surge before the end of the innings.
