HAMPSHIRE new boy Reece Topley took his first wickets for England but could not prevent a six-wicket defeat in the opening one-day international against Pakistan.

Topley, in only his second one-day international, took 3-17 from an outstanding six-over opening spell to reduce Pakistan to 41-3, chasing 217, in the first match of the series in Abu Dhabi.

He began his second spell with Pakistan 136-4, needing 81 from 126 balls, but despite bowling three more tidy overs he could not prevent the ‘home’ side reaching their target with 38 deliveries to spare.

The former Essex left-armer had threatened to surpass the career-best 4-26 he took against Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl in August, before finishing with 3-26 from his nine overs.

Two of Topley’s first three deliveries were wides, either side of an edge that dropped just short of Joe Root with his first legitimate ball.

After a third wide, Topley trapped Azhar Ali lbw with his fifth legitimate delivery.

Bilal Asif went the same way, after an England review, to the second ball of Topley’s second over.

And the 21 year-old had the scalp of Younis Khan in his fifth over, the Pakistan legend’s ODI career ending with a pull straight to Adil Rashid at mid-on.

Topley had provided hope after England were skittled for 216 with only Eoin Morgan (76), James Taylor (60) and Chris Woakes (33) making scores of note.

But after his early burst, Mohammad Hafeez guided Pakistan to their target with an unbeaten 102.

Hafeez shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 106 with Babar Azam, who made a run-a-ball 62.

England captain Morgan said: “It was disappointing that we let our bowlers down.

“We haven’t done that in a while but were, minimum, 30 runs short.”