Insipid to inspired. Pakistan turn around form to

Pakistan celebrate their victory over England

Pakistan has beaten England by 14 runs at Trent Bridge, with the World Cup's first centuries from Joe Root and Jos Buttler not enough to help the hosts and pre-tournament favourites overhaul the huge target of 349 set for them.

England had won the toss and put Pakistan in to bat, banking on the pace of fast bowlers Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer for early wickets and no doubt hoping to recreate the way the West Indies skittled Pakistan out for 105 on Friday.

That defeat was Pakistan's 11th successive loss in one-day internationals, including a 4-0 series defeat to England in the run-up to the World Cup.

The visitors, Pakistan, could have surrendered to the pre-match hype. They didn’t. England too could have given up when they were 118 for 4 in the 22nd over – still 231 runs adrift with Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, and Ben Stokes in the hutch. They didn’t either.

However it was Pakistan that put their woeful performance and recent record behind them and racked up 348 runs for eight wickets, delighting their cheering fans in the stands with 29 fours and six sixes.

Mohammad Hafeez was his side's top scorer with 84 off 62 balls, while Babar Azam made 63 and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed belted a quickfire 55 as Pakistan set a total that would require England to break the record for highest run chase in a World Cup fixture if they were to remain undefeated.

In the first two days of the tournament, England were lauded for their brilliance with bat and ball, and also in the field, and Pakistan were ridiculed for their insipid performance against the West Indies. What a difference a few days makes. Whilst Chris Woakes took four difficult catches, generally, England were disgraceful in the field. Jason Roy floored a dolly at mid-off from the bat of Mohammad Hafeez when he was only on 14, that alone would cost 70 more runs. There was overthrows which went to the boundary, and general cock-ups galore which reminded all cricket fans of the England of old.

And Pakistan's batsmen also turned their form around, as they were fantastic against the much fancied English attack. Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid all went at about 8 an over or above, whilst Mark Wood and Moeen Ali both bowled well, picking up 5 wickets and leaking only 103 runs between their 20 overs. All of Pakistans top six got starts while three past the 50 mark before some tail-end hitting saw the Pakistani's move well past 300 to finish 348 for 8.

England were left with a mountain to climb at 118 for four in just the 22nd over, before Joe Root (107) and our player to watch, Jos Butler (103), combined for a 130 run stand. Despite their heroics, it was never going to be enough for England who became the first side to score twin centuries and lose in a World Cup match as the top order failed around them. Worryingly, Jonny Bairstow looked to have regained his touch before falling awkwardly caught behind off the bowling of Wahab Riaz.

Wahab Riaz picked up three wickets for the Pakistani's with Amir picking up two, but it was the leg spinner Shadab Khan (2/63 off 10) who turned out the match winner for Pakistan.

Shadab’s leg-spin proved to be the difference in the end, among other things. As many as 35 runs had come in four overs before the 39th, but Shadab gave away just two and picked up Root, who had missed two cuts off back-of- length turners and chose the wrong one to cut – too full and was swallowed at backward point.

Buttler crashed Riaz for 10 runs next over but then began the lull. With Moeen Ali, out of sorts, (the left-hander was expected to take on the leggie), Buttler too decided to play the spinner out. Bu there were still three overs in him. In that vital spell, Shadab gave away just 13 runs. Hasan Ali too skidded in two tight overs and suddenly England required 65 from six overs.

If you are a pop-psychologist, Pakistan’s triumph would be a win-win situation for both the victors and the vanquished — and as a result for the tournament. Pakistan needed this to shrug off the first-match blues, and England needed it to stub the hype building around them that could cause insane pressure later. A blessing in disguise, perhaps. Now, yet again, the tournament remains open and the echoes of "It's coming home" now is being sung around Pakistan, and rightfully so because England did not look like a champion team today, and this trophy has never been in England, but once to Pakistan. Could it now be time for it to head home again?

THE STAR

Shabad Khan was inspiring for Pakistan who turned around their fortunes against England

Shabad Khan was magnificent in Pakistan's defeat of England. Finishing with 2 for 63 off 10 does not give Khan the justice he deserves. After picking up Jason Roy for 8 in the third over to open the game up for Pakistan, he returned to the attack in the 39th, picking up Joe Root before going for just 11 runs in his next two. His final spell of 1/13 off 3 deep into the English run chase with two set batsmen at the crease was pivotal for Pakistan. THE MOMENT

A dejected Root reacts to losing his wicket to Shabad Khan

Shabad Khan being thrown the ball in the 39th over was a risky move that had to be taken at some point. WIth Root already past 100, and Buttler 75 off just 55 balls, no-one would have expected a leg-spinner to have such an impact so late in the run chase. Shabad threw in a quicker ball in the 5th ball of the over, Root, in his eagerness to play his favourite shot, the dab to third man, found himself late on the shot and instead scooped it to the man there, and Pakistan had finally made the breakthrough. Without it, we may have been speaking about England's batting heroics again. THE FAILURE

Jofra Archer's face says it all after Root throws away four runs off his bowling.

The last ball of the 46th over Joe Root peeled off a fantastic piece of fielding at point, only to take an uncalculated throw at the stumps without a man backing up in the same post code. Albeit, Sarfaraz was two or three meters out of his crease, but was turning around. Holding onto the ball would have been a dot ball for the English who deserved to watch the ball go either side of Root for four after a glorious cut shot by the Pakistani captain. Instead, Root went for glory, and watched the ball trickle into the rope on the other side of the field. It was the final moment of calamity for England who dropped catches, misfielded for much of the day and in a game that was decided by just 14 runs, it was failures like this that mattered. WHAT NEXT - Pakistan take on 1996 Champions Sri Lanka on Friday, whilst England take on Bangladesh in what is starting to shape up as a must watch match. TONIGHT - Afghanistan take on Sri Lanka from Sophia Gardens