<table style="width: 158px; height: 174px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="158" align="left" border="1">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td><img alt="" src="/imagedata/2010/sep/davies.jpg" border="0" /></td></tr>  <tr>  <td>  <p align="center"><span style="font-size: 8pt">England's Steven Davies plays a shot during the first ODI against Pakistan at the Durham International Cricket Ground yesterday. <strong>Pic/AFP</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>England cruised to a 24-run win over embattled Pakistan thanks to a tempo-setting display from Steve Davies in the first match of the one-day international series at the Riverside yesterday.<br /><br />Davies was drafted into the England side in place of wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter and he seized the opportunity to cement his place at the top of the order with 13 fours in a devastating innings of 87 from 67 balls.<br /><br />Umar Gul and debutant Mohammad Irfan bore the brunt of Davies's onslaught as England reached 274 for six from a rain-reduced 41 overs after a two-hour delay caused by a wet outfield.<br /><br />Pakistan never seriously threatened to chase down that target as England's bowlers kept the tourists on a tight leash, with Kamran Akmal's 53 and a quick-fire 43 from Umar Akmal in their total of 250-9.<br /><br />Strauss said: "Steve Davies was outstanding with the bat and got us off to a flying start. Our score was very competitive on this wicket.<br /><br />"The fielding could have been a bit better but I was pleased with the way we bowled at the end. I'm <br />pretty happy with what we've done."

England cruised to a 24-run win over embattled Pakistan thanks to a tempo-setting display from Steve Davies in the first match of the one-day international series at the Riverside yesterday

Davies stars as England beat Pakistan in first ODI

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Davies stars as England beat Pakistan in first ODI

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