A combined team effort was what it took for Pakistan to steer past hosts, and heavy favourites, England. The Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side put up a massive total during their batting, before defending the same later.
Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, and Sarfaraz Ahmed all scored more than fifty runs for the Men in Green, while Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan outwitted the opposing batsmen with their spells. The result saw Pakistan claim their first win of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, having lost the last match to West Indies in a humiliating fashion.
That defeat was their 11th straight loss in completed one-day internationals, including the recent 4-0 series defeat against England.
But they started strongly at Trent Bridge on Monday and made 348 for eight, experienced Hafeez top-scoring with 84.
No side had previously made more runs batting second to win a World Cup match than Ireland, with 329 for seven against England at Bangalore in 2011.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 348/8 in 50 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 84, Babar Azam 63; Moeen Ali 3-50, Chris Woakes 3-71) beat England 334/9 in 50 overs (Joe Root 107, Jos Buttler 103; Wahab Riaz 3-82, Shadab Khan 2-63) by 14 runs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Congratulations to the Pakistan cricket team for a great win and for coming back into form after a poor start in the warm up matches and the first WC match. You have the talent, all you need is the self belief that you can go all the way.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 3, 2019
How good was that from @TheRealPCB 🙌 unbelievable game of cricket!! Well bowled @iamamirofficial and @WahabViki 🙌 https://t.co/civ8SplBbJ
— Marizanne Kapp (@kappie777) June 3, 2019
Low to high,Beating the favourites thats wht pak cricket is..Experience does matter specially under pressure,well done @WahabViki @iamamirofficial ..top knock @MHafeez22 @babarazam258
— Sohail Tanveer (@sohailmalik614) June 3, 2019
What a win @TheRealPCB – @WahabViki was special today!! From 105 all out to 348 in two days beating the no 1 team in the world! Truly mercurial,presence of Amir and Shadab helped strength the team & Mohd Hafeez & Shoaib Malik were fantastic! #EngvPAK
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) June 3, 2019
England can be beaten #ENGVPAK they are not invincible and that is fantastic for #CWc2019
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) June 3, 2019
Take a bow @TheRealPCB resilience … Thats the key !!! Wonderful comback to turn the fortunes #EngVPAK #CWC2019 Well done… But imagine what you can do if you field well too !!!
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) June 3, 2019
#Phainta completed.
What a performance. Few weaknesses to be addressed and we are on track. Very well done boys.#ENGvPAK #CWC19— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) June 3, 2019
Fantastic win for Pakistan, England losing in a run chase at home after nearly 4 years. Pakistan have showed a lot of character after the humiliating loss against West Indies. Wahab and Amir were really good in the end . #ENGvPAK
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 3, 2019
Good bounce back from, Pakistan 🇵🇰 #CWC19
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) June 3, 2019
Alhamdullilah https://t.co/Ms35o8lndz
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 3, 2019
It started 4 days back but the World Cup came alive today!
Not just an unexpected result but a thriller too!
Well done Pakistan!! 👏👏👏#ICCWC2019— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 3, 2019
105 one day. And defeating the World Cup favourites in the next match. That’s Pakistan for you. Unpredictable. Entertaining. Well done 👍 #CWC19 #EngvPak
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/hershybru/status/1135603713559748611
Amazing what a better attitude does to a cricket team! Well played Pakistan! Great win. 👏🏻👏🏻
Who says One Day cricket is dead? #ICCWorldcup19— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) June 3, 2019
Lose 4 nil to the Worlds No1 team coming into the World Cup. Get demolished by a team that had to qualify for the CWC in your 1st game. Lose your last 11 completed ODI’s. Take down the No 1 ranked team next game. Never write off Pakistan👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) June 3, 2019
Congratulations #TeamPakistan #CWC2019
— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) June 3, 2019
England becomes the first side in #CWC history to lose a match after two of their batsmen making centuries in the same innings!#CWC19#CWC2019#EngvPak#PakvEng
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 3, 2019
One minute up, next minute down.
Pakistan cricket at best….!
Congratulations to the whole country & what come back by the Army in Green 🇵🇰🙌
This is Pakistan. Well done Hafeez, Amir, Wahab & the whole team. We are back in form. #CWC19 #PAKvٍENG #WeHaveWeWill— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) June 3, 2019
What a comeback from #Pakistan , what a comeback from @WahabViki , @MHafeez22 and @76Shadabkhan
Outstanding team performance.
2nd upset of the tournament 👍🇵🇰Pakistan back on track 🇵🇰#CWC19 #WeHaveWeWill #ENGvPAK
— Sana Mir ثناء میر (@mir_sana05) June 3, 2019