In the end, the asking rate (6.48 which rose to 12) was too much for the Englishmen as they lost the opening match of the Coca Cola Cup One-Day Tri-Series by 90 runs here today. Incidentally, Akhtar held two brilliant catches too to dismiss both Hick and Flintoff when they were looking dangerous from Pakistan's point of view.

The 23-year-old Akhtar, who has tormented the Indian top-order recently, was at his menacing best as he ripped through the defence of the Englishmen today. Although he conceded two consecutive boundaries to Alec Stewart off his first two deliveries,Akhtar had the last laugh by reducing the Englishmen to 53 for three in the 10th over.

Undeterred by the reverse, Hick and Flintoff batted boldly to strike some solid shots. Lancashire's Flintoff, in fact, was severe, striking four sixes two off Afridi and one each off Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq. But once their stand was broken by the latter, England's lower order did not have much to offer.

Earlier, Ijaz Ahmed proved that the Pakistan innings does not always lose its way once star opener Saeed Anwar gets out cheaply. The stylish one-drop batsman demonstrated his batting prowess and importance to the team's gameplan against an England attack that had no sting to pick up an aggressive 137 off 130 balls as his side posted a mammoth 323 for five in 50 overs.

All through his stint, Pakistan coach Javed Miandad kept on sending instructions to Ijaz to remain in the middle till the end. He was aware that if Ijaz Ahmed stayed on, the other batsmen playing along with him would be inspired. AlthoughIjaz got out in the 45th over, playing a tired looking heave off Darren Gough to Hick at long-off, he had done enough in his 222nd one-day international match to give his team the winning edge.

The England team's bowling left much to be desired . They had no clue to stop the irrepressible Ijaz who seems to be peaking for the World Cup with every game.

SCOREBOARD
Pakistan: Saeed Anwar c Stewart b Gough 17, Shahid Afridi c Gough b Ealham 41, Ijaz Ahmed c Hick b Gough 137, Inzamam-ul Haq c Hick b Gough 59, Wasim Akram c Hollioake b Flintoff 22, Moin Khan not out 29, Azhar Mehmood not out; Extras (nb4, w3, lb10, b1): 18. Total (for 5 wkts in 50 overs): 323.

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-116, 3-261, 4-285, 5-311

Bowling: Gough 10-1-55-3, Mullally 10-0-64-0, Ealham 10-0-52-1, Croft 6-0-36-0, Hollioke 5-0-30-0, Hick 2-0-13-0, Flintoff 7-0-62-0.

England: Nick Knight b Akhtar 1, Alec Stewart c Haq b Akhtar 18, Graeme Hick c Akhtar b Saqlain 65, Graham Thorpe c Mehmood bAkhtar 18, Neil Fairbrother b Mehmood 19, Andrew Flintoff c Akhtar b Saqlain 50, Adam Hollioake b Afridi 18, Mark Ealham st Khan b Afridi 11, Robert Croft c Youhana b Afridi 4, Darren Gough c sub (Wasti) b Saqlain 4, Alan Mullaly not out 2; Extras (lb10, w10, nb3): 23. Total (all out in 45.5 overs): 233Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-29, 3-53, 4-91, 5-185, 6-186, 7-208, 8-221, 9-224Bowling: Akram 7-0-33-0; Akhtar 10-2-42-3; Mushtaq 7.5-0-23-3; Mehmood 10-1-55-1; Afridi 9-0-53-3; Malik 2-0-17-0.