Ian Bradley: Dropping Bell is worst decision since they got rid of Hoggard, premature end to brilliant career. Also despair for Plunkett.

Umpire Chris Gaffaney has a pen and notepad out at the beginning of Riaz's over. What is he writing down? "Idea to pitch to TV. Merv Hughes takes his wife to net practice, with hilarious results. Call it Merv and the Mrs". This is good from Riaz, probing off stump and around. Three singles from it.   

Kevin Howells
BBC Test Match Special

"This is their sixth 50+ partnership in 14 innings together. It's been a very good series for them."

Mohammad Irfan switches ends as Pakistan's search for a wicket grows in urgency. Roy again gets a bit loose-wristed outside off stump, but clears the infield over the off side for three. Hales, much more calmly, cuts for a couple behind square. There's a contrast in the control of this England opening pair, who have racked up another half-century stand. 

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"Roy and Hales will be trying to establish what a good score is. You don't want to set your sights too high, you can never set precise targets but I think it'll be higher than Sharjah and Abu Dhabi."

Kevin Howells adds: "Only once has more than 300 been scored in an ODI here."

Alex Hales, a maiden ODI ton under his belt, bangs his bat hard and walks across his stumps as Riaz gets into his delivery stride. No great movement in the air for Riaz, but he is sending it down at more than 90mph. A nice square drive from Hales is stopped at point, but the man primed to be Alastair Cook's next opening partner looks in good touch. 

Charles Dagnall
BBC Test Match Special

"The majority of the ground is in shade now, quite a hazy afternoon, and soon enough that crescent of sunshine will ebb away and we'll see the hundreds of spotlights come on around the ground."

Anwar sets off on his straight run-up, delivering the ball with the jutting elbows of a man trying to escape a straight-jacket. With all but the tiniest patch of outfield now in shade, Anwar again gets leggy, with Hales once more taking advantage with a whip to long leg for four.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"Pakistan haven't given England the width they've been hoping for, England have taken the patience option but that's the second one Jason Roy has edged behind."

Wahab Riaz, with his whippy, dangerous, left-arm toe-crushers, gets an early roll, immediately inducing another inside-edge from Roy that again scoots past the keeper for four. Roy looks a bit floppy outside off stump, the bat all limp. He checks his backlift, a man wrestling with his technique. 

Some of Pakistan's fielding has been very good - Ahmed Shehzad lively at point. However Rizwan, who was previously sharp, lets Roy off with a single. If there's just a hint of frustration growing for England, Anwar lets it loose with a leg-stump half-volley that Hales flicks for four.

Irfan has a little skip at the end of his run, remaining round the wicket as Dubai is filled with noise from the few Pakistan supporters that are inside. Still shortish, but Roy's timing isn't quite there for the pull shot. Roy, by the way, has taken 21 deliveries to Hales's nine. England still struggling to to find the boundary. 

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"Jason Roy has realised in this series that he and Hales need to give themselves just a little more time."

Image source, Getty Images

Anwar Ali has the perfectly groomed beard of a villain. Think evil Mr Spock., external I'm not saying Anwar is a bad bloke, in fact I'm sure he's a nice chap. His inswing is causing Jason Roy a touch of bother, not least because the batsman is playing away from his body. An inside edge brings England their first boundary, but it's more by luck than design.

Mohammad Irfan lumbers in, almost in slow motion, now round the wicket to this pair of right-handers. In the late Dubai afternoon, there's a shadow slicing the track in two. Still no boundary for England, whilst Irfan is optimistic with an lbw shot against Hales that wouldn't have hit a third set. 

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"Hales was only about halfway down the pitch there when he realised he was in trouble - if the throw had hit, he was gone."

Close!published at 2 overs

2 overs

Eng 6-0

Oooohhh, very tight for Alex Hales, who would have been a goner had Mohammad Rizwan's throw from mid-wicket hit direct at the non-striker's end. Excellent dive and throw from Rizwan, who wasn't far off grilling Hales by a couple of yards. It's a good start with the the ball from Pakistan, Anwar Ali just finding a hint of in wobble.