Clumsy from Hales, who drops his bat at the end of a run, robbing him and Root of the chance to turn for a second. Root, who is yet to find a boundary, pulls Irfan into the leg side. Hales is now on his highest ODI score.

Charlie Benson: We're such an optimistic bunch us England fans. Just watch, we'll bring up 200 in no time!

Tom Littlewood: I think England need to be around 280-300 by the end of their 50 overs to win.

I've been slightly distracted by the sight of people abseiling down the side of our building for charity. England's run rate has been going very much in that direction for a while but this is the best over in a while - some quick running makes it six from the over.

Image source, AP

Football Fragmento: Alex Hales in dangerous territory. His best ODI score is 67.

The giant Mohammad Irfan, as I believe we're contractually obliged to refer to him, returns to the attack and comprehensively befuddles Alex Hales. The opener can't lay a bat on a succession of deliveries that whistle past the off-stump. England's runaway train has been held up here - just one boundary in the last 63 balls now...

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"There is no rush yet. But this can be a slightly tricker time to bat as the light starts to go, just before the floodlights come on."

Thank you Mitch. England have built a platform so solid it could support the weight of a tap-dancing Johnny Vegas. But that's quite enough about tonight's Children in Need plans. 

Anwar Ali has got a real grip on this run rate since he came back into the attack and he restricts the batsmen to four singles from another tight over.

More steady, risk-free accumulation from England as Shoaib Malik whistles through his sixth over. And the boundary drought is finally ended as Hales finds the gap wide of mid-on with a powerful short-arm jab.

And we're at the halfway mark - having (hopefully) set a platform in the first half of England's innings, I leave you as it's over to James Gheerbrant to step on the accelerator...

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"England need to answer the question: 'What score to do we need to get on this surface?' At the moment the impression is that England are not trying to be too greedy. Hales has almost reined himself in since Roy was out."

Root - who's taken Graeme Swann's old number 66, if you weren't with us on Wednesday - is making a careful start, and feverishly adjusts his gloves between deliveries. Anwar does not have the pace of Wahab or Irfan, and it's easy pickings for England in terms of singles. Five more added.

Anthony Davison: Nice to see Jason slashing away out there on Friday the 13th - batted, Jason Roy.

England are a little becalmed in Abu Dhabi - we've not had a boundary for six overs, but five singles are collected from the latest Shoaib Malik offering.

Meanwhile, over in Mirpur, Bangladesh have bowled Zimbabwe out for 131 in 19.3 overs in their first Twenty20 international. Without the 68 made by Malcolm Waller, the Zimbabwe total would have been very sorry indeed.

Image source, AFP

Wahab off, Anwar Ali returns, England back into steady accumulation mode, three singles taken. Hales has 51 from 59 balls, Root has nine from 16.

Root adds a single off Malik. Just the five bowlers used today, although captain Azhar Ali doesn't have too many options today, given that his XI includes two wicketkeepers plus a man (Mohammad Hafeez) banned from bowling by the ICC. But I wonder if debutant Iftikhar Ahmed might get a bowl a bit later.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Hales has done really well. Roy played the gobsmacking shots - Hales has been a bit more measured but he's scored quickly and he's still there."

50 for Alex Halespublished at 20.3 overs

20.3 overs

Eng 113-1

Hales reaches his third ODI fifty from 57 balls with a single from the recalled Shoaib Malik. His highest previous ODI score is 67.

Image source, Getty Images

England move off the dreaded 111 as Hales takes a single to move to 49. Wahab moves back to bowling over the wicket to the new man Root, and it looks like there are some very attractive leather sofas and armchairs for some VIPs in the pavilion to watch the game. Officially jealous.

Replays show... Hales had a big swing but that was nowhere near his bat, despite a frenzied appeal from wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed. Third umpire Johan Cloete tells on-field ump Shozab Raza he must reverse his decision. Nelson doesn't strike for once.

Kevin Howells
BBC Test Match Special

"Alex Hales reviewed that straight away - he clearly doesn't think he's hit it."