Pakistan captain Azhar Ali led from the front with 82 before England fought back to hold the tourists to 260 for six in the first one-day international at Southampton on Wednesday.

In a rain-interrupted innings, Sarfraz Ahmed (55) was the only other batsman to make a fifty and Pakistan's plight in this day-night clash would have been worse had Azhar not twice been dropped on nine.

Azhar won the toss in the first of this five-match series and elected to bat in what was then bright sunshine.

Sharjeel Khan, carrying on from his blistering 152 in last week's 255-run win over Ireland, struck three fours in 15 balls.

But the left-handed opener fell for 16 when he top-edged a pull off fast bowler Mark Wood and was caught behind by Jos Buttler.

England, whose fielding had proved fallible during a recent 2-2 drawn Test series against Pakistan, then twice dropped Azhar.

He was put down in the gully by Alex Hales off Wood, playing his first match for England since a Test against Pakistan in Dubai in October following persistent ankle problems.