England on Wednesday beat Pakistan by 44 runs on Duckworth–Lewis method after rain stopped play twice in three balls during the 34th over in England's pursuit of 261-run target in the first of the five One-Day Internationals (ODI) at Ageas Bowl here at Southampton.

The hosts were 194 for three after 34.3-overs when a heavy shower forced players and umpires off the field.

Pakistan chances brightened after the Three Lions suffered a set back in the shape of Joe Root's run-out.

The right-hander's stay at the crease was curtailed to 72 balls as Pakistan captain Azhar Ali hit the wickets directly when Morgan called for a quick single after dropping the ball.

However, before getting dismissed, Root played his part with a brilliant 61 — his third consecutive ODI fifty.

Opener Jason Roy gave England a profound start, scoring boundaries at regular intervals, that gave the hosts an upper hand over Pakistan. He was dropped by Sarfraz Ahmed off Mohammad Amir — a moment that proved to be a game changer.

His 56-ball 65 was embellished with seven awe-inspiring boundaries — six fours and a six.

The right-handed batsman fell in the 18th over when he danced down the wicket to smoke Mohammad Nawaz over his head only to get caught by Baber Azam at long-off boundary.

England lost their first wicket to Umar Gul, who conceded three fours in his first over, during the fifth over when Alex Hales, boasting a batting average of more than 70 since in this calendar year, nicked a short-pitched delivery into first slip's hands.

Azhar initiated the proceedings with left-arm orthodox Imad Wasim despite a heavy cloud-cover.

Imad, however, was removed from the attack after he failed to get any spin from the wicket.

In contrast to Chirs Woakes, who moved the ball a great deal under sun, Pakistan pacers, Mohammad Amir and Gul, failed to get any lateral movement in the air.

Pakistan Innings

Opting to bat first after winning a crucial toss on a dry wicket, Azhar kept the tourists' innings together with a sound 110-ball 82.

Sharjeel, who opened his account with a cracking four off Mark Wood in the second over, fell on the 31st delivery of the innings as he attempted to pull the 26-year-old, leaving Pakistan one down for 25.

The left-handed batsman hit 16 runs off 15 balls which included three fours.

Hafeez, who replaced the 27-year-old, fell in the 13th over when he went for a sweep off Root that landed safely in fine-leg's hands which saw young Baber Azam join Azhar, who had two lucky escapes as he was dropped twice on 9 by Alex Hales and Jos Buttler.

After a calm 42-ball 40, an unlucky Azam was given LBW on Adil Rashid's delivery.

The 21-year-old had nicked the ball before it went on to crash onto his pad, as revealed by the hawk-eye.

The right-handed batsman could not review the dismissal as it has been used up by Sharjeel earlier in the innings.

Owais: "The current review system is unfair. There should be one or two reviews per player, or unlimited reviews. What's the big issue?" I think one review is fine, so long as umpire's call verdicts don't count against teams who take a second look

— From ESPNCricinfo live coverage

Azhar, however, kept Pakistan afloat as he held his end as he put up 65 and 61-run stands with Sarfraz and Baber.

However, the tourists' captain, who hit nine fours, was caught by Moeen Ali, stationed at short third-man, when he went for a wild heave over mid-wicket boundary off Rashid, only to top-edge it in the 35th over.

The wicketkeeper-batsman took the command of the ship and scored his career's fourth half-century.

But, a brief rain-interval during the 42nd over broke the momentum that resulted in two quick dismissals after the play resumed.

Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik was the first victim when he handed an easy catch to mid-off during the 44th over off Liam Plunkett's ball, ending a threatening fifth-wicket stand of 46 runs with Sarfraz.

The 34-year-old managed just 17 off 25 balls before being replaced by Mohammad Nawaz.

The Karachi-born, who put up 55 off 58 balls, followed the Sialkot-born back to the pavilion just after three balls after being caught in the same region as Malik.

All-rounders Imad and Nawaz put up 34 runs in the last 5.3-overs to take Pakistan to 260.

Rashid was England's pick of the bowlers with two for 51 in his nine overs.

Toss

Earlier, talking to Nasser Hussain during the toss, Azhar revealed one change in their line-up from the first ODI against Ireland last week.

Hasan Ali, who played his first ODI against Ireland, made way for Wahab Riaz.

Ben Stokes returned to international cricket after he limped during Old Trafford Test against Pakistan earlier in the tour. He is joined by express pace bowler, Mark Wood.

Wood last played for England during the Three Lions tour of United Arab Emirates last year. After sustaining an ankle injury during the tour, the fast-bowler underwent two surgeries.

However, he impressed with thunderbolts during the recently concluded England's domestic Twenty20 championship.

This was Azhar's fifth contest against England as captain and Pakistan's first international match after they were declared number one Test side earlier in the week.

Pitch and Weather report: The sun has basked on the picturesque Ageas Bowl throughout the day. The wicket is dry and promises to help the spinners. The experts are not ruling out the role of reverse swing in the the death overs.

Team line-ups

England: Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, and Mark Wood

Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Azhar Ali (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, and Mohammad Amir