England batsman Alex Hales delighted to make maiden ODI ton

A maiden 50-over century from Alex Hales helped England to a comfortable 95-run victory over Pakistan in the second ODI in Abu Dhabi to level the series in style.

England strongly recoiled back in the series as they showed their dominance in all departments of the game, hence, Pakistan wasn’t able to resist revengeful English attack.

But let us begin with the news that today will be Younis Khan’s 265th and final ODI before he retires.

With England fielding a relatively inexperienced bowling line-up, Morgan gave credit to the batsmen after the win, saying on Sky Sports 2: “That (batting) is where most of our experience lies”.

But Hafeez made it back-to-back hundreds across the formats, with 10 fours and a six from 127 balls, joined in an unbroken century partnership by Babar – who completed his 50 by hitting Woakes straight into the pavilion stand.

Hafeez’s 102 from 130 balls nearly entirely ruined England’s already slim chance of victory, until Azam’s run a ball 62 took the game well and truly away from them.

“He is certainly somebody that we are looking at to nurture, particularly with his white-ball skills and he is very good for a 21-year-old”, said Morgan.

He said: “They’re a young group who want to go out and give it their best, and it’s fantastic there’s no ceiling to them… the way they can flourish, and the environment”.

It was Hales’s superb knock that set up England’s match.

Anwar Ali joined Sarfraz and the two shared a meaningful seventh-wicket partnership of 65 runs off just 67 balls.

“We think we have the ability and the players in our team to win this series”, he said.

Despite losing the first match by six wickets Wednesday when Pakistan easily chased down 216, England elected to bat first again and got a brilliant start from the top order.

The left-armer finished with 3-25, while Chris Woakes took 4-33 and Adil Rashid, who flummoxed the Pakistan line-up with his googlies, and Reece Topley, who tied them down with a few skilful changes of pace, took a wicket apiece. Jos Buttler was run out for just one as he continued his run of low scores, as did Moeen Ali when he was dismissed by Yasir Shah for seven.

The tourists paid for two batting collapses on the way to defeat by six wickets, with more than six overs unused, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.

The second match will be played at the same venue on Friday.