Cardiff, Aug. 31: Rain ended England’s run of seven straight limited overs defeats as the first one-day international against Pakistan ended in a no-result at Sophia Gardens here on Wednesday.

Pakistan, chasing a revised target of 159 in 32 overs after a rain break of an hour-and-a-quarter, were 46/1 off seven overs when a second downpour ended the match.

Although the tourists were ahead of the required run-rate, they had to bat for a minimum of 20 overs for this day/night fixture, the opening contest of a five-game series, to be deemed a match. Mohammad Hafeez was 18 not out and Younis Khan 12 not out.

During their current home season England had lost a Twenty20 and five full one-day internationals against Sri Lanka before Monday’s five-wicket Twenty20 defeat against Pakistan at Bristol. This series continues with a day match at Lord’s on Saturday.

England had earlier been bowled out for 202, featuring Ian Bell’s one-day international best of 88, after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq won the toss and chose to field.

"It’s not the way we wanted to stop the run of defeats," Bell told reporters. "We believe we can compete with Pakistan in this series and we’re excited about Lord’s."

Mohammad Asif, who ripped through England’s top order, finished with an impressive 3/28 off a maximum 10 overs.

And fellow quick Shoaib Akhtar, who returned to international action after a stress fracture of the left ankle on Monday, 3/45 off 10.

Bell, who hit three hundreds in the recent Test series against Pakistan, said: "It went pretty well on Wednesday. "I tried to carry on my form from the Test matches," added the Warwickshire, whose innings surpassed his previous one-day best of 80 against minnows and World Cup qualifiers Ireland in June."

Pakistan suffered a setback in the second over when Stuart Broad, on his one-day international debut, had Shoaib Malik lbw for five to leave the visitors for one.

At the other end Darren Gough, England’s most successful one-day international bowler with 235 wickets and playing his match at this level in over a year, saw Hafeez top-edge a hook over the slips for four and next ball force him to the backward point boundary.