England start series in style

England bounced back from their Test hammering at the hands of Pakistan with a comprehensive 130-run victory in the opening one-dayer.

Skipper Alastair Cook led from the front with a career-best 137 that provided the backbone for a competitive 260-7, despite Saeed Ajmal's five-wicket haul.

Steve Finn then quickly ruined Pakistan's hopes of a successful chase under the floodlights at the Zayed Stadium with a devastating new-ball spell.

The paceman took out his frustration at having to carry the drinks so far on the tour with four early scalps, starting with two in as many balls. The hosts were simply never able to recover, eventually being bowled out for 130.

Fabulous Finn

Finn certainly didn't waste any time in making an impression on the series, removing Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shafiq leg before at the start of his second over.

He also had the dangerous Younis Khan caught behind by Craig Kieswetter for 15, and when Imran Farhat provided England's wicketkeeper with a second catch Pakistan were reeling at 40-4.

Samit Patel took over from Finn but continued the procession of wickets from that end, the left-arm spinner trapping Misbah-ul-Haq lbw and then getting an out-of-sorts Shoaib Malik to splice a full toss straight to mid-on.

Umar Akmal (22) was stumped off Graeme Swann to leave the score on 98-7 and despite some lusty blows, Shahid Afridi perished for an entertaining 28 when he picked out long-off to become Patel's third victim.

Finn returned to try and become the first England bowler to take a five-for against Pakistan but to no avail, meaning he finished with 4-34. In the end it was Stuart Broad who took the final wicket, at the end of the 35th over.

Cook fittingly took the catch to end the match, completing an excellent day for both himself and his team. He had earlier hit 17 fours in a 142-ball knock that will have done much to silence those who have questioned whether his style and scoring rate merits a place in the one-day team.

Kevin Pietersen's return as an opener failed to result in any afternoon fireworks, however, as he provided just 14 to an opening stand of 57 before he was bowled by Afridi.

Jonathan Trott fell in the same fashion to the very next ball, leaving Cook and Ravi Bopara to try and get things back on track.

Fortunate

The Essex duo did just that with a third-wicket stand worth 131, though Bopara was fortunate to survive on just two when he foolishly attempted to go back and cut Afridi. Umpire Ahsan Rana judged there had been an inside edge before hitting the pad right in front of middle stump - with their DRS option already wasted, Pakistan could not challenge the decision.

But, just as the alliance seemed to be setting England up for a big finish, a familiar foe curtailed their hopes of a score of 280 or more.

After six wicketless overs Ajmal (5-43) claimed 5-15 in his last four, Bopara his first victim when the right-hander was comprehensively beaten in the flight to be stumped straight after drinks, sending him back for an even 50.

Eoin Morgan missed an attempted reverse hit to go lbw for two, Kieswetter (nine) was caught at short third man trying to heave to leg and Broad offered a low return catch to the spinner when he had just one to his name.

Cook also fell to Ajmal, bowled around his legs looking to sweep, but although 64 runs from the last 10 overs looked a little disappointing at the time, England proved to have more than enough on the board.

The triumph, their first over Pakistan on what has been a tough trip to the United Arab Emirates, means they move ahead in the four-match series. The next match is at the same venue on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports.