Watch free highlights via this link.
Joe Root’s smooth 85 was not enough to give England victory in their final World Cup warm-up game as Misbah-ul-Haq’s unbeaten 91 helped Pakistan to chase 251 with four wickets and seven balls to spare.
In a repeat of the 1992 World Cup final, which Pakistan also won, Root’s innings and 57 from Yorkshire team-mate Gary Ballance lifted Eoin Morgan’s side to a respectable 250 for eight at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
England had their opponents in trouble at 78 for four in the 23rd over, but skipper Misbah and Umar Akmal responded with a stand of 133.
Although Umar fell for 65 from 66 balls, Misbah remained to aid victory in a tense finish under the SCG floodlights with 91 not out from 99 deliveries.
Despite defeat, the exciting end will aid England’s preparation for their World Cup campaign, which starts on Saturday versus co-hosts Australia.
Pakistan are next in action in another mouth-watering contest, against holders and bitter rivals India on Sunday.
England used their second warm-up match in three days to play their squad members who had missed out on Monday’s thrashing of West Indies.
Ballance, having recovered from a fractured finger, and Alex Hales came in for their first appearance of the Australia tour while Stuart Broad and James Anderson returned following a rest. Ian Bell, James Taylor, Chris Woakes and Steven Finn made way.
With Morgan having opted to bat first, Moeen Ali was out cheaply offering a leading edge to Ehsan Adil.
Large crowd in the famous @scg pavilion watching #EngvPak. #Eng 24-1 after eight ovs. Hales (17*) in good touch. pic.twitter.com/c5DN24zKQj
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 11, 2015
Hales, opening the batting, and Ballance reacted with an assured half-century alliance until the former was caught off Shahid Afridi at midwicket for 31.
That stand was worth 64 and the Yorkshire duo of Ballance and Root then produced another, from 59 balls, that yielded 56 before the former’s stay ended on 57 with a lofted sweep to deep square-leg off Yasir Shah, who returned 3-45 from 10 overs.
Morgan departed later in the over for nought, miscuing an attempted reverse-sweep into the hands of slip, and Ravi Bopara was short of his free-scoring best as he chipped in with 11 before he misread a Shah wrong-un to be bowled.
When vice-captain Jos Buttler was yorked by Sohail Khan for 13, Root was left to bat with the lower order in the final 10 overs.
Root soon lofted the first six of the innings over midwicket off Shah, and Chris Jordan followed suit as the pair supplied some acceleration with 60 from 49 balls.
Root was out when he top-edged a paddle sweep off Sohail, and Broad was then held for a first-ball duck when he skied Wahab Riaz even higher. Jordan ended unbeaten on 31.
Broad and Anderson each struck early in the reply, respectively having Nasir Jamshed and fellow opener Ahmed Shehzad held at second slip by James Tredwell.
Ballance then took two more good catches in the deep. He dived forwards at fine-leg after Jordan hurried Younus Khan into a hook and then made good ground when Haris Sohail lofted Tredwell to long-on.
9 overs remain. Pak need 66. Come on England! Break this partnership! #LoveEnglandpic.twitter.com/22M1B4Qlhd
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 11, 2015
England were on top at that stage, but Misbah combined expertly with Umar in the the only century partnership of the game.
They picked their moments to clear to ropes, set right back on the vast SCG outfield, and otherwise worked busily to pick off the England attack, especially Jordan in the later overs.
Akmal fell with 40 still needed, edging Broad behind, but Misbah was always intent on remaining until the end and he was supported by Afridi, who hit two consecutive fours off Broad to finish proceedings.