Alex Hales hit 53 off 40 balls as a new-look England beat Pakistan by six wickets in the opening T20I in Karachi on Tuesday.

The opener – playing in his first international after a three-year absence following a failed recreational drug test – anchored England’s chase of a modest 159-run target in 19.2 overs.

The win gives England a 1-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Opener Mohammad Rizwan scored 68 off 46 balls to help Pakistan to 158-7 in their 20 overs after England sent them in to bat at a capacity National Stadium.

Pakistan’s players wore a special kit on which their names and numbers were shown submerged in water, to show solidarity with victims of the floods in the country. England’s players wore black armbands as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died earlier this month.

Hales, recalled after injury ruled out Jonny Bairstow, smashed seven boundaries and added 55 for the fourth wicket with Harry Brook, who finished with 42*.

Brook, one of seven England players to feature in this year’s Pakistan Super League, cracked seven boundaries in a robust 25-ball knock.

Ben Duckett (21), Dawid Malan (20) and Phil Salt (10) were other England contributors.

Pakistan’s innings was once again held together by Rizwan.

Rizwan, the top run-scorer in the Asia Cup earlier this month with 281, hit six boundaries and two sixes and put on 85 for the first wicket with skipper Babar Azam (31).

Iftikhar Ahmed hit three sixes in his 17-ball 28, but Pakistan managed just 71 runs in the last 10 overs, losing six wickets.

Debutant Shan Masood made just seven while Haider Ali scored 11.

England debutant pace bowler Luke Wood finished with 3-24, while spinner Adil Rashid took 2-27.

© Agence France-Presse