No let-up for Pakistan as England win in Cardiff

World Twenty20 champions England ensured no release for the crisis-hit Pakistani team by posting a five-wicket success at Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium.

The first of two Twenty20 games in three days between the sides predictably failed to rise above a controversy that has crippled international cricket.

Pakistan's visit to the Welsh capital was inevitably overshadowed by the spot-fixing allegations made against their Test team skipper Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Asif's fellow bowler Mohammad Amir.

The trio are currently suspended following allegations in last weekend's News of the World that Asif and Amir bowled no balls to order during last month's fourth Test against England at Lord's. All three players are the subject of police and International Cricket Council investigations, although they have denied any wrong-doing.

Pakistan's Twenty20 team, under the enthusiastic leadership of Shahid Afridi, battled hard to defend a disappointing 126 for four after they were kept in check by England spinners Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy.

And Yardy then did his bit with the bat, rescuing England from an alarming position of 62 for five as he compiled an unbroken sixth-wicket stand worth 67 with Eoin Morgan. Yardy finished on 35 from 26 balls and Morgan unbeaten with 38 off 24 as England triumphed 17 balls inside the distance.

Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar at least lived up to his "Rawalpindi Express" nickname during a hostile opening spell that accounted for Craig Kieswetter and Ravi Bopara.

Kieswetter was caught behind for six after slashing outside off-stump, then Bopara (11) fell to a stunning Mohammad Yousuf catch. And when Afridi bowled England skipper Paul Collingwood (4) and Luke Wright for a second-ball duck either side of wicketkeeper Steven Davies' dismissal for 33, a real contest beckoned.

But Pakistan could not turn the screw, and Morgan, who enjoyed a let-off when Shoaib dropped a simple catch early in his innings, smashed the winning boundary through extra-cover.

It put England one up in the series - they meet again in Cardiff tomorrow evening - and continued their run of quality Twenty20 form under Collingwood.

Spinner Swann earlier led the way, claiming two for 14 as Pakistan were restricted to little more than six an over after they were put in by Collingwood following a 30-minute delayed start because of rain.

England were left chasing what proved a comfortable target in their first Twenty20 game since being crowned world champions earlier this year.