CARDIFF, 31 August 2006 — Pakistan fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar took six wickets between them as England were dismissed for a modest 202 in the first One-Day International at Sophia Gardens here yesterday.

Ian Bell’s career-best 88 was the only individual England score above James Dalrymple’s 27 after they lost the toss in this day night match, the opening fixture in a five-match series.

Asif finished with three for 28 off a maximum 10 overs and Akhtar, who returned to international action after a stress fracture of the left ankle in Pakistan’s five-wicket Twenty20 win against England at Bristol on Monday, three for 45 off 10.

The covers then came on as rain fell with England needing a good performance in the field to record only their fifth win in 20 One-Day Internationals.

Bell shared stands of 57 with Paul Collingwood (14) and 68 with Dalrymple but Pakistan rarely lost their grip on an innings where it needed a last-wicket stand of 29 between Darren Gough and one-day international debutant Stuart Broad to take England past 200.

Asif ripped through England’s top order with a spell of three wickets for 12 runs in 26 balls.

England captain Andrew Strauss, who might have been out twice before he was dismissed, exited for two when he top-edged a legside pick-up shot off and Shahid Afridi at square leg took the simple catch.

England lost their second wicket when Marcus Trescothick, their other left-handed opener, on 16 gave himself room to square-cut but only succeeded in edging the ball through to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

Bell, trying to thrash Rana Naved through the offside on nine, got a thick edge behind where second slip Younis Khan dropped the sharp two-handed chance above his head.

Asif, spotting Kevin Pietersen advancing down the pitch, bowled a bouncer which hit the South Africa-born batsman.

Next ball Asif cleverly bowled a full-length delivery which cut away off the pitch and Pietersen got an edge which was well caught by the diving Akmal. Asif had dismissed the hard-hitting Pietersen for just two to leave England 51 for three inside 14 overs. After a spell of 8-3-19-3, Asif was replaced by Abdul Razzaq, who came close to having Collingwood lbw for 13.

Then a single off leg-spinner Afridi took Bell to a 71-ball fifty with nine fours.