Over-by-over commentary: England v Pakistan, Champions Trophy semi-final

Match scores:

Pakistan beat England by eight wickets

England: 211 (49.5/50 overs. Root 46, Bairstow 43, Stokes 35, Morgan 33; Hassan Ali 3-35, Junaid Khan 2-42, Rumman Raees 2-44, Shadab Khan 1-40)

Pakistan: 215-2 (37.1/50 overs. Azhar Ali 76, Fakhar Zaman 57, Babar Azam 38*, Mohammad Hafeez 31*; Ball 1-37, Rashid 1-54)

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Over-by-over commentary:

Pakistan (215-2) beat England (211) by eight wickets
And it was every bit as comprehensive as that sounds. Pakistan have absolutely dominated England here, right from the very first over when Jonny Bairstow was spared a pretty clear lbw verdict. Pakistan have swarmed all over England, who were never able to produce anything like the cricket that has propelled them to the top of the one-day game in the last two year. Out-bowled, out-thought, out-batted, out-fought.

Over 38: Pakistan 215-2 (Babar Azam 38, Mohammad Hafeez 31)
That'll do. Half-tracker from Stokes, and Hafeez smacks it for four before raising his arms in celebration.

Over 37: Pakistan 211-2 (Babar Azam 38, Mohammad Hafeez 27)
Hafeez crunches a Moeen long-hop to the fence as Pakistan rush towards a quite brilliant victory. Same shot two balls later, and the same result takes Pakistan within two runs of their target. A legside single brings the scores level, but Babar keeps us all waiting by blocking the final ball of the over.

Over 36: Pakistan 202-2 (Babar Azam 38, Mohammad Hafeez 18)
Ben Stokes has not had a good day. Starts his second spell with a no-ball because there are too many men outside the circle. Hafeez slogs the resulting free-hit for six. The next ball is a wide. This is not good. Babar's cover-drive is, though, a beautifully flowing blade from a rock-solid base. That at least sparks Stokes into life. The next ball is quicker, shorter, and gives Babar the hurry-up. He's able to get it to legside safety, though, and complete a single. Ten more runs and we can all go home.

Over 35: Pakistan 187-2 (Babar Azam 33, Mohammad Hafeez 10)
All four Pakistan batsmen have managed something not one of England's could: clearing the ropes.

Over 34: Pakistan 183-2 (Babar Azam 32, Mohammad Hafeez 7)
Missed stumping. Hafeez yorks himself giving Rashid the charge, but Buttler can't complete a pretty routine job. A potential 2-48 for Rashid becomes 1-54 as Hafeez slaps the next ball - Rashid's last - over long-off for six.

Over 33: Pakistan 176-2 (Babar Azam 31, Mohammad Hafeez 1)
Could that wicket be the start of a dramatic collapse??!!?!? (No.)

WICKET! Azhar Ali b Ball 76 (100b, 5x4 1x6)
Comical end to a fine innings from Azhar who charges at Ball and gets in a horrible tangle when confronted with a slower-ball bouncer. Tries to play a tennis shot, ends up somehow diverting the ball into his leg stump.

Over 32: Pakistan 173-1 (Azhar Ali 76, Babar Azam 30)
All I'm saying is you didn't get this kind of thing from England when Jason Roy was in the side.

Over 31: Pakistan 169-1 (Azhar Ali 73, Babar Azam 29)
Ball bowling cutters with men catching at cover, mid-off and midwicket. I guess it might work.

Over 30: Pakistan 166-1 (Azhar Ali 72, Babar Azam 27)
Babar goes in-to-out over cover off Rashid and collects three. It's the only scoring shot from the over.

Over 29: Pakistan 163-1 (Azhar Ali 72, Babar Azam 24)
Glorious from Azhar, leaning on a full delivery from Plunkett and absolutely pinging a drive straight back past the bowler, missing the stumps by no more than an inch on its way to the boundary mere moments later. England setting some funny fields with catching mid-offs and such, but it's a half-hearted effort.

Over 28: Pakistan 157-1 (Azhar Ali 67, Babar Azam 23)
Best and worst of Rashid here as he drags one down for Babar to whack for four through midwicket before flighting the next ball and enticing a drive that meets only thin air as the ball grips and spins.

Over 27: Pakistan 152-1 (Azhar Ali 67, Babar Azam 19)
Top-edged pull shot from Babar, but it falls short of Hales at deep square-leg. Azhar picks up two with a clip off his pads. England have pretty much given up here. They're 66/1 if you want to back them...

Over 26: Pakistan 149-1 (Azhar Ali 65, Babar Azam 18)
Any slight hope England had that the wicket of Fakhar might prompt Pakistan to do something silly thoroughly and instantly extinguished by Babar, who has calmly helped himself to 18 not out at better than a run a ball.

Over 25: Pakistan 142-1 (Azhar Ali 63, Babr Azam 13)
Pakistan doing this with astonishing ease. Just milking the singles from this Plunkett over as the runs required drops to a mere 70 at the halfway point.

Over 24: Pakistan 138-1 (Azhar Ali 61, Babar Azam 11)
Shot of the day from the new batsman Babar, depositing Rashid down the ground for the full count in an over that knocks another 10 off Pakistan's meagre target.

Over 23: Pakistan 128-1 (Azhar Ali 59, Babar Azam 3)
A pair of misfields from Morgan at cover-point allow both batsmen singles that should have been cut off. Wood not as impressive today as in previous games, and even his short ball lacking fizz now as Azhar pulls him well in front of square for two more.

Over 22: Pakistan 122-1 (Azhar Ali 55, Babar Azam 1)
A misfield gets Babar off the mark before Azhar jogs through for two after a pleasing drive past cover.

WICKET! Fakhar Zaman st Buttler b Rashid 57 (58b 7x4 1x6)
Too little too late, but a breakthrough at last for England as Fakhar misreads Rashid's googly and can't recover his ground after missing a booming drive.

Over 21: Pakistan 118-0 (Azhar Ali 52, Fakhar Zaman 56)
Azhar moves past 50 and takes Pakistan's target down to double-figures with a deliberate late cut wide of slip and fine of third-man. England burn their review on a caught-behind appeal against Fakhar, who misses with his pull shot and the ball grazes his thigh-pad on its way through to Buttler.

Over 20: Pakistan 111-0 (Azhar Ali 47, Fakhar Zaman 56)
Good over from Rashid, spinning one past Azhar's outside edge and then almost having him stumped off Buttler's boot when an attempted sweep is undone by a grubber.

Over 19: Pakistan 108-0 (Azhar Ali 45, Fakhar Zaman 55)
Wood back as England search increasingly desperately for wickets, like a stained-trousered drunk hunting for his keys. No joy.

Over 18: Pakistan 105-0 (Azhar Ali 42, Fakhar Zaman  55)
Pakistan's first hundred partnership for the first wicket in ODIs since May 2015. Fakhar celebrates the moment by flaying Moeen over cover for four. Pakistan are almost halfway there, and it's been a far cry from England's painful, laboured progress to 211.

Over 17: Pakistan 99-0 (Azhar Ali 41, Fakhar Zaman 50)
Fifty up off 49 balls for Fakhar. Some of England's batsmen looking shiftily at their feet.

Over 16: Pakistan 95-0 (Azhar Ali 39, Fakhar Zaman 48)
Last ball of Plunkett's over disappears through midwicket as Fakhar closes on 50. Be disappointing if Pakistan don't at least go a bit Pakistan here to make things vaguely interesting.

Over 15: Pakistan 88-0 (Azhar Ali 37, Fakhar Zaman 43)
Rashid into the attack now. Fakhar smacks him down the ground for a one-bounce four, and in truth deserves at least four bonus runs for the flourish of his followthrough. He's toying with England.

Over 14: Pakistan 81-0 (Azhar Ali 36, Fakhar Zaman 37)
England waiting until the game is totally gone before trying spin feels like an error. Decent enough over from Plunkett, but that's not going to get the job done.

Over 13: Pakistan 78-0 (Azhar Ali 34, Fakhar Zaman 36)
This has gone. Even Azhar is putting England to the sword now, hooking Stokes over long-leg for six and then driving gloriously through point for four more.

Over 12: Pakistan 66-0 (Azhar Ali 23, Fakhar Zaman 36)
England getting stuffed here. The hosts' only hope is Pakistani self-destruction. It can't be ruled out, but it doesn't look likely right now. Plunkett into the attack and, desperate not to offer Fakhar any width, errs too straight and is flicked fine for four. Glorious cover-drive to the longest part of the ground brings Azhar three.

Over 11: Pakistan 56-0 (Azhar Ali 19, Fakhar Zaman 30)
Morgan turns to Stokes' golden arm. Nothing doing in his first over, punctuated by a pulled four for Azhar that raced past Rashid at fine-leg.

Over 10: Pakistan 49-0 (Azhar Ali 14, Fakhar Zaman 28)
This one is nailed by Fakhar. He knows what's coming here, and thrashes a half-tracker from Ball through midwicket for four. Nothing streaky about that one, and Pakistan doing the right thing here; getting ahead of the game while the balls are hard and batting is at its easiest. Fakhar very much a happy hooker, and this time he skies it. Buttler hares back from behind the stumps. Wood hares round from long-leg. Neither man can get there.

Over 9: Pakistan 41-0 (Azhar Ali 13, Fakhar Zaman 21)
Fakhar gets four more for a pull shot. Nowhere near the middle of the bat, but unless he miscues it to long-leg or straight up in the air these unconvincing shots are safe with this field. Bobbles away to the fence.

Over 8: Pakistan 35-0 (Azhar Ali 12, Fakhar Zaman 16)
Short and wide from Ball, and Azhar cracks a cut to the point boundary. Ideal. nerve-settling start for Pakistan in pursuit of a low target.

Over 7: Pakistan 30-0 (Azhar Ali 8, Fakhar Zaman 15)
Fakhar going to get plenty of short balls, and a well-directed one from Wood hits him flush on the helmet badge before ballooning to third-man for a leg-bye. Much fuller length to Azhar, who is beaten twice in a row and once again before the over ends.

Over 6: Pakistan 29-0 (Azhar Ali 8, Fakhar Zaman 15)
Misfields now, Rashid failing to pick up cleanly at third-man and allowing Azhar an extra run. Last ball of the over is a good one from Ball, beating Azhar's outside edge. Not been enough of that.

Over 5: Pakistan 26-0 (Azhar Ali 6, Fakhar Zaman 14)
All too easy for Pakistan in these opening overs. Any demons in the pitch somehow less pronounced when you know four an over is all you need.

Over 4: Pakistan 23-0 (Azhar Ali 5, Fakhar Zaman 12)
If Fakhar bats for any length of time here then Pakistan will get home very quickly. Nails a pull shot through square-leg, giving Rashid at long-leg no chance of getting round.

Over 3: Pakistan 18-0 (Azhar Ali 5, Fakhar Zaman 7)
Pakistan getting more joy from top-edging short balls than England did. All seven of Fakhar's seven runs in that fashion, this time a single as the ball lands safely short of Ball at long-leg.

Over 2: Pakistan 16-0 (Azhar Ali 4, Fakhar Zaman 6)
Not sure England can really afford to give away freebies here, but there have now been wides in both opening bowlers' first over. To make matters worse, Ball's swings further after passing Azhar and evades Buttler. Five to the total. Ugly start from England. They're rattled.

Over 1: Pakistan 10-0 (Azhar Ali 3, Fakhar Zaman 6)
Pakistan up and running in their run-chase with a legside wide from Wood, before Azhar takes on the short ball - risky, based on England's efforts - and picks up three to deep square-leg. Fakhar follows him in, and his top edge sails over Buttler and all the way for the first six of the day.

Sky Bet Odds Update:
The odds have almost exactly swapped from the outset, with Pakistan now 2/5 and England 2/1. Babar Azam is a 100/30 Price Boost to top score in Pakistan's run-chase, while it's 6/4 for Pakistan to win by six or more wickets.

England 211 all out (49.5 overs)
Hassan Ali once again the star for Pakistan. Whatever happens from here on, he's surely the find of the tournament. Rumman Raees, Junaid Khan and Shadab Khan all offered quality assistance, while the fielding and catching was largely secure after a couple of early lives for the recalled Bairstow. England way short of par, but there is something in this pitch for the bowlers. Pakistan heavy favourites, but you fancy it's not yet quite in the bag.

WICKET! Wood run out 3 (5b)
Ball fails to get bat on a free-hit opportunity as the England Innings In Microcosm moments continue to stack up. Ball gets two for a high, not particularly handsome drive. Wood is then run out next ball trying to burgle a bye to the keeper. England all out for 211 with one delivery left unused. Pakistan just 212 runs away from the Champions Trophy final. They've utterly dominated England here.

Over 49: England 207-9 (Wood 2, Ball 0)
What a bizarre innings this has been. Yes the pitch has helped, yes Pakistan have bowled well. But England have looked utterly devoid of ideas and urgency when presented with a pitch on which a relentless pursuit of 330 was impossible.

WICKET! Plunkett c Azhar Ali b Rumman Raees 9 (14b 1x4)
A first boundary for 10 overs arrives via Plunkett's outside edge, but he perishes next ball. Another wicket for the short ball, a top-edged pull nonchalantly pouched at head height by Azhar Ali.

Over 48: England 201-8 (Plunkett 5, Wood 0)
Hassan ends with the outrageous and thoroughly deserved figures of 10-0-35-3. Could prove a matchwinning spell.

WICKET! Stokes c Mohammad Hafeez b Hassan Ali 35 (64b)
England get past 200 thanks to a scampered two from a Plunkett free-hit before Stokes' tortured innings finally comes to a boundary-less end, completely befuddled by a Hassan slower ball and sending the ball high into the air to Hafeez at cover.

Over 47: England 196-7 (Stokes 33, Plunkett 2)
England haven't scored a boundary since the 38th over. This is a team that has made 100 off the last 10 overs routine. Stunning performance this from Pakistan, making the absolute most of conditions that suit.

Over 46: England 190-7 (Stokes 29, Plunkett 2)
Stokes slips at the non-striker's end when looking for a second run. Plunkett carves Hassan down to third-man for a single, but it's another over gone without damage for Pakistan.

Over 45: England 187-7 (Stokes 27, Plunkett 1)
Stokes drags his strike-rate kicking and screaming up to 50. Genuinely bizarre innings from one of the game's most destructive and brilliant players. It's not like he's been deliberately watchful, he just - for whatever reason - cannot locate the middle of his bat.

Over 44: England 182-7 (Stokes 23, Plunkett 0)
England haven't had a single score between 200 and 295 when batting first in the last year. That trend could yet continue here.

WICKET! Rashid run out 7 (13b)
England circling the drain as Rashid survives a leg-before shout but is tardy in heeding Stokes' call for a leg-bye. Shehzad's direct hit runs him out by a foot.

Over 43: England 180-6 (Stokes 21, Rashid 6)
Raees back into the attack to beat Rashid's outside edge three times in a row. Fourth ball pops off a length and Rashid scampers a single after the ball squirms into the offside via glove and belly. A bouncer is slightly harshly called wide, and England will gratefully receive all such gifts at this stage. Stokes still yet to find the middle after facing 46 balls. His bodged attempt to go for a wee during the drinks break very much the highlight of his innings thus far.

Over 42: England 177-6 (Stokes 20, Rashid 6)
Knock-on at square-leg allows Stokes to sneak back for a second run after working Shadab into the legside. Even at their very, very best you get some comedy in the field from Pakistan. Another fine over, though. Even their old 1992-2015 staple 250 starting to look out of reach for England now.

Over 41: England 173-6 (Stokes 17, Rashid 5)
I appreciate this might not be the most significant thing going on right now, but Marais Erasmus appears to have complemented his mustard uniform with gold lip balm. It's bold. It's fabulous. It's 173-6 after 41 overs.

Over 40: England 169-6 (Stokes 15, Rashid 3)
Rashid's batting every bit as wristy as his bowling. Perhaps more so. He maneouvres one ball down past short third-man for a couple and then manages to work a near identical delivery wide of mid-on for a single.

Over 39: England 165-6 (Stokes 14, Rashid 0)
Pakistan very warm favourites now. They're into 4/7, and history suggests this is probably the time to bail. They're great underdogs, but not such reliable favourites. Adil Rashid joins Stokes, who England desperately need to recover his form as overs tick by.

WICKET! Moeen Ali c Fakhar Zaman b Junaid Khan 11 (14b 2x4)
Stunning catch at deep square-leg sends Moeen back to the pavilion. Top-edged pull, but it looked like Moeen might get away with it until Fakhar Zaman took flight and plucked the ball from the air. England in deep, deep trouble.

Over 38: England 161-5 (Stokes 10, Moeen Ali 11)
Stokes struggling here, clothing Hafeez to long-on for a single after giving it the big charge. Then has words with someone. At least his sledging skillset is still on point. Moeen succeeds where Stokes failed, chipping the ball over the infield and placing it nicely into the midwicket gap to pick up four. Short boundary there, and targeted. Umpires get involved at the end of the over in a bid to defuse any Stokes-led conflict between the sides.

Over 37: England 155-5 (Stokes 9, Moeen Ali 6)
England feel on the very edge of capitulation here. Stokes visibly frustrated as he repeatedly tries and fails to thrash Junaid away before a misfield at cover allows him to escape to the sanctuary of the non-striker's end. Just two singles from the over.

Over 36: England 153-5 (Stokes 8, Moeen Ali 5)
Wonderful stuff from Hassan Ali. Beats Moeen twice in a row, the second time with an absolute pearler. Not sure which it missed by less: the outside edge or the off stump. Moeen lands a counter-punch with a square-drive that beats the diving cover sweeper as England limp past 150. Hard to know what's a winning score here, but England will surely want at the very, very least another 100 runs from somewhere in the last 14 overs.

Over 35: England 149-5 (Stokes 8, Moeen Ali 1)
Flip! Pakistan are now favourites. 5/6 v Evens. 

WICKET! Buttler c Sarfraz Ahmed b Junaid Khan 4 (7b)
The biggest wicket-taker in the history of cricket strikes again. The first ball after drinks, and Buttler nicks it through to the keeper. England now in very grave danger of falling well short. This has been English one-day cricket as it used to be played: consolidation for a late charge, lose a bunch of wickets before the charge can begin. Problems here.

Over 34: England 148-4 (Stokes 8, Buttler 4)
Just two singles from the over, and plenty for England to ponder at drinks. Scenes at the drinks break. Stokes needed a pee and tried to use the groundsman's toilets. Not happening, and he's jobsworthed away to the other side of the ground to use the changing room lavvy.

Over 33: England 146-4 (Stokes 7, Buttler 3)
Junaid back into the attack. One more quick wicket here for Pakistan and they really are in business. Four singles from the over as two of England's free-spirited big-hitters are forced into a moment of introspection.

Over 32: England 142-4 (Stokes 5, Buttler 1)
Pakistan aren't favourites yet, but it's getting close. They're now 11/10 as Jos Buttler gets off the mark with a firm square-drive out to the offside sweeper. A glum Joe Root is sat on the balcony shaking his hoodied head.

WICKET! Morgan c Sarfraz Ahmed b Hassan Ali 33 (53b 4x4)
Problems now for England. Hassan Ali back to make the breakthrough and does just that as a frustrated Morgan charges down the track and feathers one through to the keeper. Another outing for Hassan's patented celebration, which is basically a turbo-charged Shahid Afridi and quite, quite beautiful.

Over 31: England 139-3 (Morgan 32, Stokes 4)
England only had 130 after 30 overs here against Pakistan last year and ended up north of 300. That wasn't enough, though: Pakistan chased it down with 10 balls to spare. Morgan aims a big legside heave at Hafeez, misses, and the ball passes the leg stump by millimetres.

Over 30: England 136-3 (Morgan 30, Stokes 3)
Morgan goes to his old faithful, reverse-sweeping Shadab over short third-man for four. Still only six runs from the over, though. Pakistan not quite in control of the match, but certainly in control of the run-rate right now.

Over 29: England 130-3 (Morgan 25, Stokes 2)
Pakistan's price shortening by the over here, now in to 13/8 as they squeeze England in these middle over.

Over 28: England 129-3 (Morgan 25, Stokes 1)
England's heroes from the victory over Australia reunited. England not in the bother they were when they came together in that innings, but still not exactly in clover here.

WICKET! Root c Sarfraz Ahmed b Shadab Khan 46 (56b 2x4)
Big wicket for Pakistan as Root feathers an attempted cut shot through to Sarfraz. Just done by a bit more pace from the leg-spinner on that occasion, and the Yorkshireman has to drag himself from the crease.

Over 27: England 127-2 (Root 46, Morgan 24)
Root gets a couple with a premeditated lap sweep that has long-leg scampering around the boundary edge.

Over 26: England 123-2 (Root 43, Morgan 23)
DRS to the rescue again as Tucker gives Morgan out caught at slip after an attempted reverse sweep loops to sweep. Instant review from the England skipper, and with good reason. Straight off the forearm, and decision swiftly overturned just as soon as the third umpire has made absolutely sure that he's not lbw instead. Last ball of the over spoils it for Shadab, overpitched and crashed to the cover fence by the England skipper.

Sky Bet Odds Update
England remaing very warm 4/11 favourites for this one, with Pakistanstill out at 9/4. If you think England are set for an explosive finish to their innings, you can get an 11/2 Price Boost for either Stokes or Buttler to top score for England.

Over 25: England 118-2 (Root 42, Morgan 19)
Morgan so quick on anything short from the spinners, and latches on to one from Hafeez to whack it into the gap at midwicket for a welcome boundary. Halfway through the innings, and it already looks like England may well need every one of their now customary 100 off the last 10.

Over 24: England 111-2 (Root 40, Morgan 14)
This has gone old school, and that definitely suits Pakistan. Not saying Root and Morgan are playing it wrong, but Pakistan will be pretty happy with where things are right now. Morgan, so destructive against Australia a few days ago, far more circumspect here having taken 27 watchful deliveries over his unbeaten 14.

Over 23: England 108-2 (Root 38, Morgan 13)
First boundary in 55 balls for England, and not a particularly convincing one as Morgan bottom-edges a pull just beyond the diving Sarfraz and away to the fine-leg fence.

Over 22: England 101-2 (Root 36, Morgan 8)
Rameez Raja on TV comms reckons this is a "flat pitch". It isn't, as lovely Brendon McCullum sweetly and patiently explains by pointing out the uneven bounce, spin and two-pacedness we've already seen. It's certainly not a bad pitch, but it's no flattie. Hundred up for England.

Over 21: England 96-2 (Root 33, Morgan 6)
An on-screen graphic brings us the always-amusing reminder that England's all-time leading ODI run-scorer is Ian Ronald Bell. A more perfect indicator of everything England did wrong in this form of the game for over 20 years you could not wish to find. Enjoy it while it lasts; both these two proper one-day players will go past him and spoil it. Morgan has just ticked past 5000 and within 416 runs of Bell's total that was literally comprised entirely of pretty 40s and 50s.

Over 20: England 93-2 (Root 31, Morgan 5)
Hafeez very excited about an lbw shout against a reverse-sweeping Morgan and wants to review it. Sarfraz patiently explains, as one might to a child, that a) Morgan got a massive inside edge and, more importantly, b) they've already used their review.

Over 19: England 89-2 (Root 30, Morgan 2)
Hassan sends a bouncer high over Root's head for a wide, but it's another tidy over for Pakistan despite Root carving the last ball down to third-man for a couple.

Over 18: England 84-2 (Root 27, Morgan 1)
Professor Mohammad Hafeez into the attack with a studious over that yields just three runs. This innings has been a bit meh from England so far, to be fair, but still feel they're in a pretty reasonable position given the surface. Undoubtedly the pitch has increased Pakistan's chances of victory here, though. Hard to see how Pakistan could have beaten England in a flat-pitch big-hitting contest.

Over 17: England 81-2 (Root 25, Morgan 0)
Test and one-day skippers together in the middle for England. Their first task here is to assess and decide what kind of total is required. This has not looked or behaved like a 330 pitch thus far, but such trifles rarely seem to concern this England side these days.

WICKET! Bairstow c Mohammad Hafeez b Hassan Ali 43 (57b 4x4)
Well this has just come out of nowhere, huh. Bairstow on the pull but gets it high on the bat and picks out deep square-leg. Success for the estimable Hassan Ali in his first over

Over 16: England 80-1 (Bairstow 43, Root 24)
Drop! Absolutely no exaggeration to say Bairstow has had more go his way today than Roy has all summer. Another dropped catch, at slip this time as Bairstow swishes outside off stump. Azhar's parry almost carries to short third-man to add to the fun.

Over 15: England 77-1 (Bairstow 41, Root 23)
Four singles from the over. One-day cricket from the old school.

Over 14: England 73-1 (Bairstow 39, Root 21)
Bairstow finding his range. Clubs Shadab down the ground for four and then warms long-on's hands with another stinging drive down the ground. Shadab still finds time to rip one past a lunging defensive stroke from England's new opener.

Over 13: England 67-1 (Bairstow 34, Root 20)
Wasim doing a very tidy job. There is literally nothing fun about it. More leg-spin, fewer left-arm darts. That's how we save this sport.

Over 12: England 65-1 (Bairstow 33, Root 19)
It should be a legal requirement for every team to include a leg-spinner. They're just plain better than regular bowlers in every possible way. A textbook leg-spinner's over to start from Shadab Khan, including a perfectly pitched delivery that induces a leading edge, one that fizzes past the outside edge, and a dragged-down half-tracker that Root smacks for four.

Over 11: England 58-1 (Bairstow 32, Root 13)
Bit of retro cricket from England, who begin the oddly named Powerplay 2 (formerly the Boring Middle Overs) with six risk-free singles milked off Wasim.

Over 10: England 52-1 (Bairstow 29, Root 10)
Short and wide from Raees, but Root can't quite get enough on his square-cut to stop third-man getting round to keep it down to two. Drop! Another let-off for Bairstow, who thumps a pull shot to midwicket where Azhar Ali can only tip the ball over the crossbar for a corner. England's 50 up during a first 10 overs that has ended up far better for the hosts than it probably should have. Pakistan, meanwhile, may already be starting to feel that they might have missed the boat a bit here.

Over 9: England 45-1 (Bairstow 26, Root 6)
Wasim has already rattled through two overs at a cost of just four runs here. Gamble of deploying the spinner during the field restrictions paying off for Pakistan. Slightly optimistic lbw appeal against Root during an effective over of left-arm darts.

Over 8: England 44-1 (Bairstow 25, Root 6)
Insightful I know, but Joe Root is so good at batting. Just nudges one off his pads here, and it fair races across the large Cardiff square for four runs.

Over 7: England 37-1 (Bairstow 22, Root 2)
Spin as early as the seventh over as Swansea-born Imad Wasim gets an early chance. Root almost done by one that keeps a touch low before getting off the mark with a carve behind point for two. 

Over 6: England 34-1 (Bairstow 21, Root 0)
All Yorkshire in the middle now as Root joins Bairstow, who has - with a smidgeon of good fortune along the way - passed Roy's highest ODI score of the summer.

WICKET! Hales c Babar Azam b Rumman Raees 13 (13b 2x4)
No escape for Hales this time, miscuing a drive to cover and giving Babar Azam an easy catch. Hard to argue Pakistan don't deserve some sort of reward for their new-ball endeavours here.

Over 5: England 29-0 (Bairstow 16, Hales 13)
First sign of something mischievous on this used pitch as a cross-seam delivery from Junaid bites in the surface and pops at Bairstow, who plinks the ball in the air but short of cover. For the second time in three overs, Junaid ends an otherwise good over with a gentle throwdown to Hales, who this time thumps a cover-drive to the boundary. Was an attempted cutter, became the very longest of half-volleys.

Over 4: England 24-0 (Bairstow 15, Hales 9)
It's Going England's Way This Morning. Hales given out lbw on the field by Rod Tucker, but what appears an optimistic review turns out instead to be an inspired one. The ball was knocking all three stumps out of the ground but had pitched a gnat's hair's width outside leg stump. Not out. Judging by the globally accepted cricket sign language between Bairstow and Hales as they considered that review, they thought it was going down leg, so that inspired review should perhaps actually be filed under 'dumb luck'.

Over 3: England 20-0 (Bairstow 14, Hales 6)
According to the Intel Drone Pitch Analysis, today's pitch is far more purple than the last one they used in Cardiff, which was fairly yellow. Think we all know what that means. First boundary for Bairstow, chipped nicely through square-leg as Junaid arcs one into the pads. Even better shot in the same direction brings four more, a short-arm-jab of a pull shot off the front foot. Second ball of this match already has the look of seismic significance.

Over 2: England 7-0 (Bairstow 2, Hales 5)
Tidy start from debutant Raees, whose name is just going to look like a typo all day and there's nothing we can do about it. Still can't believe Bairstow got away with that lbw. If that had been Roy there would have been three red lights and then his trousers would have fallen down and then he would have accidentally called the umpire "mummy" and all the other boys would have laughed at him.

Over 1: England 5-0 (Bairstow 1, Hales 4)
HUGE moment second ball as Junaid Khan is absolutely convinced he's got Bairstow trapped in front. Everything about it looks right, but Mustard Marais says no. Pakistan decide to use their one review, and Bairstow is spared by umpire's call in a way that just further rubs it in for Roy, who fell in exactly that fashion from exactly that ball against Australia. Excellent start from Junaid and Pakistan, but will they live to regret burning their review? Hard to be critical - it just looked out for all money - but 49.4 overs is a long time to be without one. Good end to the over for England as Hales punches one straight back down the ground for four.

1025: The players and umpires are out for the anthems with the sun beating down on Whatever Sophia Gardens Is Called For This Tournament. Always beautiful in Wales. The umpires are once again sporting the mustard version of their uniform which imo does the larger frame few favours. Rod Tucker faring better than Marais Erasmus.

1015: All sorts of betting opportunities over at Sky Bet today. Price Boosts, RequestABets, the lot. How about all-round hero Ben Stokes to hit a six, take a wicket and pluck a catch? That's 6/1. Or if you want to go for something bigger there's a Root 100, Stokes 50, Wood 2+ wickets and a Buttler catch at 33/1. The Price Boost is Root to top-score in the match at 13/2.

1010: You can read my betting preview for today's game here if that's your thing, although it should be noted that the Mohammad Amir news is a bit of a kick in the teeth for both recommended bets; one is less likely, the other now facing Rule 4 shenanigans. This is the game we play, though.

1005: So how will this pitch play? It's a used surface, but it's not the one on which England's bowlers caused New Zealand plenty of problems. Word is, though, that it should play pretty well, with a bit of bounce and carry. 

Pakistan, meanwhile, will have happy memories of this ground. Although they went down 4-1 in last year's ODI series - including England's world-record 444-3 at Trent Bridge - they chased down 302 with time to spare to snag a consolation win here.

TOSS: Pakistan win the toss and choose to field
So we'll see both sides' stronger suit in the first half of the day. Bairstow will open, says Morgan. Rumman Raees is in for Amir, becoming the third Pakistan player to debut at this tournament.

England: JM Bairstow, AD Hales, JE Root, EJG Morgan*, JC Buttler†, BA Stokes, MM Ali, AU Rashid, LE Plunkett,MA Wood, JT Ball 

Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed*†, Imad Wasim, Rumman Raees, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan 

1000: Confirmation: Bairstow in, Roy out. And Amir is indeed ruled out for Pakistan with back knack.

0945: Morning. The football season is finally over, with even the England football team apparently having one eye on today's main event in Cardiff judging by their performance in Paris last night. Having come unstuck in the kickball against the mercurial French, it's the mercurial Pakistan for the cricket team, with a place in Sunday's final at The Oval up for grabs.

The good news for everyone is that the sun is shining ahead of this clash on a used pitch.

The bad news for Pakistan is that Mohammad Amir is apparently out of the game having suffered a back spasm. That's a huge blow for the underdogs, whose best chance today is surely restricting England's high-powered batting line-up and then hoping their own, more prosaic "England circa 1992-2015" style batting line-up can get them over the line.

For England, the word is that Jason Roy's time is up after a string of low scores, with Jonny Bairstow set to replace the Surrey man at the top of the order.