Twenty20 International novices Sam Billings and James Vince helped England go 1-0 up on Pakistan with a 14-run win at the Dubai International Stadium.
In the absence of the rested Joe Root and Jos Buttler, Billings (53) and debutant Vince (41) helped captain Eoin Morgan (45 not out) make up for any shortfall in a total of 160 for five.
Then Liam Plunkett (three for 21) – another unexpected selection here after his tour of inactivity over the previous eight weeks and just one previous Twenty20 cap nine years ago – had a hand in each of Pakistan’s first three dismissals on the way to 146 all out.
– Radio Cricket: Meet TMS’ newest commentator
– GALLERY: The top-ten Test batsmen rankings
– Cricket Xtra: Clarke gets timing wrong with book
– UAE: National side nearer to professional setup
After Morgan won the toss and England stumbled to 19 for three, it seemed they may pay for the surprise omissions of two first-choice batsmen.
But Vince reacted well to instant pressure in an important stand of 76 in 10 overs with Morgan, and then Billings upped the ante alongside his skipper too.
He smashed five fours and two sixes from just 25 balls with a display of power and invention which would have done even Buttler proud.
England’s regular white-ball wicketkeeper hit a match-winning century from a national-record 46 balls on this same ground to clinch the one-day international series six days ago.
But Morgan, on the eve of this first of three day-night fixtures, spoke of giving all players an opportunity to impress before the ICC World Twenty20 in March – and England picked their team accordingly.
They were in trouble out in the middle, though, even before many in a large crowd had completed their journey through heavy traffic to take their seats.
Match Day – First T20I Post Match Ceremony #PAKvENG #DreamGreen pic.twitter.com/e1HojQHExn
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) November 26, 2015
Jason Roy was first to go when, after hitting Sohail Tanvir over mid-off, he clogged the next ball straight into the hands of mid-on.
Alex Hales, who might already have been run out for nought and should have been caught and bowled for one, instead went on eight when he hit Anwar Ali to mid-off.
Moeen Ali could only contribute a six-ball duck, pushing Sohail to cover.
Morgan himself almost went for five, but just managed to clear Mohammad Hafeez with a mis-pull off Wahab Riaz, and should have been caught at short third-man on 37 off Ali.
But Vince began to tick over at better than a run a ball, with a series of cultured conventional shots.
Replacing Root at number three, he had a maiden fifty in his sights until he began to struggle against Wahab’s changes of pace and was eventually bowled aiming a big hit at another slower ball.
But Billings dominated a partnership of 65 in six overs with Morgan, to race to his first international fifty in 24 balls.
England had a total they could hope after all to defend, and had two early breakthroughs in Pakistan’s reply when Sarfraz Ahmed and then Mohammad Hafeez both holed out at deep backward-square – from a sweep at Reece Topley (three for 24) and then a pull at Plunkett.
The latter had held the first catch and then doubled up with his second wicket in his second over, ending a fretful stay for Rafatullah Mohmand when he had the 39-year-old debutant opener caught behind trying to pull.
The introduction of spin soon brought another wicket, Mohammad Rizwan bowled charging Stephen Parry.
A minor Pakistan revival ended with a comically calamitous run-out, the dangerous Umar Akmal racing non-striker Sohaib Maqsood for the safety of the non-striker’s crease after a mix-up over a single to short fine-leg and departing an unhappy man after losing the third-umpire photo finish.
Captain Shahid Afridi came and went in the blink of an eye, chipping a catch to cover off Parry – and when Maqsood was stumped off a Moeen wide, three wickets had fallen for one run in five balls.
Anwar Ali climbed into two sixes in Parry’s last over, but Plunkett returned to have him caught at mid-off and complete a career-best.
Much-changed England still had to hold their nerve deep into the night thanks to more late hitting from Tanvir in a last-ditch ninth-wicket stand of 45 with Wahab, before Topley picked up two more in the final over to consign Pakistan to their first Twenty20 defeat in seven matches.
