Southampton (England), Sept. 5: Looking competitive for the first time in the one-day international series against Pakistan, England had reached 195/4 in the 40th over after being asked to bat first in the third match here on Tuesday.

Half centuries by skipper Andrew Strauss and Jamie Dalrymple, who reached the mark in the 41st over, gave the home side a semblance of a fighting chance, especially with Pakistan needing to bat under lights in chase.

Shoaib Akhtar gave Pakistan the perfect start when he yorked the in-form Marcus Trescothick first ball, but a 79-run stand for the second wicket between Strauss and Ian Bell (42) restored some stability for England. Strauss was out trying to force the pace and edging first-change bowler Abdul Razzaq to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

It triggered off a mini-collapse with three England wickets falling for 46 runs to slip to 125/4.

Shoaib returned to have Bell caught at backward point in his second spell and in between, Kevin Pietersen’s breezy 20 was cut short by a a poor shot against Rana Naved.

Paul Collingwood and Dalrymple thereafter came together to try and stem any further Pakistan advances. Earlier, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq won the toss and elected to field in the day/night third one-dayer at the Rose Bowl.

England made one change from the side that lost Saturday’s second one-day international at Lord’s by seven wickets.

Sajid Mahmood, dropped for that match, replaced Darren Gough after the veteran fast bowler was ruled out of the remainder of the series with a left shin injury. Pakistan, 1-0 up in the five-match series after their victory at Lord’s and last Wednesday’s washed-out opener at Cardiff, were unchanged.