English debutant Liam Plunkett took a three wicket haul to help England to a 42-run win over Pakistan in the first One Day International at the weekend.
England, batting first, posted its best ODI score ever on international soil, toiling for a commanding 4-327 on a flat wicket.
Plunkett and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff took three wickets each as Pakistan lost its last five in 18 balls for 23 runs.
The capitulation, all out for 285 from 46.5 overs, cost the hosts a likely victory after starting strongly on 2-160 from 22 overs.
England's lofty total was built around the batting of Andrew Strauss (94), Flintoff (72 not out) and Kevin Pietersen (56).
Pakistan's response included half centuries from Salman Butt (67), Younis Khan (60), Mohammad Yousuf (59) and Shoaib Malik (50).
The win is the first major victory of the tour for England after an unsuccessful Test campaign.
