| First T20, Karachi |
| Pakistan 158-7 (20 overs): Rizwan 68 (46), Babar 31 (24); L Wood 3-24, Rashid 2-27 |
| England 160-4 (19.2 overs): Hales 53 (40), Brook 42* (25); Qadir 2-36 |
| England won by six wickets; lead series 1-0 |
| Scorecard |
In their first game in 17 years, England claimed a six-wicket Twenty20 win over Pakistan as Alex Hales hit 53 and debutant Luke Wood took 3-17.
Hales, who was dropped from the World Cup squad for off-field issues, hit seven fours and a six in his first England appearance in over a year.
Harry brook made 42 not out off 25 balls to guide the tourists home with four balls to spare after his fifty gave England a platform for victory.
Pakistan made 158-7, with opening partner and captain Babar Azam adding 31 to their score.
Babar was the main culprit in the 85-run opening stand, as he was the only one who didn't take a catch.
The match was England's first in the country for over six years.
There was no tour of Pakistan for six years after the attack on the Sri Lanka team bus.
New Zealand's men abandoned their tour of Pakistan because of a security threat after England pulled out.
The second game of the seven-game series will be played on Thursday at 17:30 BST.
During his three-year exile, Hales thought his chances of playing for England were over, but a loss of form for Roy and a serious leg injury to Bairstow has given him a second chance.
His knock combined power, touch and excellent placement as the right-hander latched onto any width, dropping deep in his crease to cut to the off-side boundary multiple times.
He was dropped on 28, but made the most of his reprieve, and was frustrated when he tried to cover the ball after reaching his fifty, which England needed to win.
Hales put on 55 runs in his first T20 in over a year, but it was the 55 he put on with brook that made the difference.
Shahnawaz Dahani was the target for Yorkshire's Brook in the 15th over after he had started patiently here.
The tourists needed 52 from 36 balls, but the first four balls of the game went for four, before two more boundaries followed, as the game swung firmly in England's favor.
Despite the dismissal of Hales, the next over went for 13 and included a beautiful straight drive by Brook.
England is going to Pakistan. The nation that the hosts would most want to come back to is the tourists.
The players walked out to a loud crowd after a minute's silence for the flood victims in Pakistan and the late queen of England.
It helped the hosts, with Babar and Rizwan attacking England from the off and racing to 85-1 after 9.2 overs.
England was able to apply pressure with tight lines and a flawless fielding performance from that point on.
Wood has excelled in The Hundred for Trent Rockets, with his performances in the competition speeding up his progress, and he is going to have no issues adjusting to international cricket.
His change of pace and length proved to be effective, as he had Iftikhar and Naseem Shah caught in the deep in the final over.
Mark Wood, who is not in the 15-man squad for the World Cup, knows he has a chance because England have fitness doubts over him.
Left-arm seamer David Willey conceded 41 from his four overs, while left-arm seamer Sam Curran took 1/30.
A brilliant performance by the captain of england. We pulled it back in the middle overs and at the end. Our bowlers did a great job setting it up for the hitters.
"Luke Wood had a big part in our success." On his debut, he stuck his chest out and did a great job. The batters had a hard time coming in.
We were able to chase it down. Alex Hales came back in after a long time. There is a lot of confidence shown by Harry brook.
Babar Azam said how he and Rizwan played in the power play was very good. After we stuck to the plan, England took care of business. It could have been better.
"England planned well and started the bowling off with some pace so we need to give them credit for that, but also our batting needs to improve."
"I have experience from the Pakistan Super League and tried to keep the ball along the ground, and be here at the end of the game." The pitches here are not very high.
The security makes it feel very safe. Someone follows me when I go to the bathroom.
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