Cardiff, August 31 :

England may have been saved by rain from an eighth straight one-day defeat against Pakistan but at least they had the consolation of seeing Ian Bell come good against an impressive attack in the opening match of this five-game series here at Sophia Gardens.

Bell’s career-best 88 was the only significant score in England’s total of 202 all out after they were made to bat first in the day/night clash. Jamie Dalrymple’s 27 was England’s next best score and, after rain between innings, Pakistan were on their way to chasing a revised target of 159 in 32 overs.

But, with the tourists 46-1 off seven overs, a second shower meant the game was abandoned as a no-result. However, Bell — who earlier this season scored three Test centuries against Pakistan — had at least taken his chance to shine in the No 3 role having been drafted in as an opener during England’s five-wicket Twenty20 defeat by Inzamam-ul-Haq’s men at Bristol on Monday.

Bell dropped on nine and off a caught and bowled by leg-spinner Shahid Afridi on 68, rode his luck but was one of the few England batsmen who looked like he had a method for facing fast bowlers Mohammad Asif (3-28) and Shoaib Akhtar (3-45).