Bazid Khan hit a match-winning unbeaten 90 to take the home team through after they reached the final over needing 10 more runs at the Bagh-e-Jinnah stadium here.

The tourists, hit by captain Michael Vaughan's withdrawal from the one-day series with a knee injury, made 236-7 in their allotted 45 overs with Matthew Prior hitting 72 and and Paul Collingwood top scoring with 75 not out.

England were well placed for a win when fast bowler James Andersonskittled three wickets in the 43rd over, leaving Pakistan A needing 22 off the last three overs.

But Bazid kept his cool as he hit Anderson for a boundary off a slog-sweep and then completed the target with another four off the penultimate delivery.

His 88-ball knock contained five fours and two sixes.

The Ashes-winning tourists, coming off a 2-0 Test series defeat, now take on Pakistan in the five-match one-day series which starts here on Saturday.

Marcus Trescothick, who did not play in the side game, will lead England in the one-dayers.

Fellow opener Andrew Strauss, who missed the third Test to attend his child's birth back home, returned Tuesday night to lead the side but failed both as batsman and captain.

He played down the defeat and said it was due to key players being rested.

"Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison are three of our most important one-day players who were rested, so we'll be stronger when we take on Pakistan," said Strauss.

"Losing the toss wasn't great. Then we couldn't finish it, but hopefully we will be up to the task come Saturday."

Put in by Pakistan A captain Abdul Razzaq, who won the toss, Strauss fell for just five runs in the sixth over, his latest single figure total following a disappointing performance in the first two Tests.

Reserve wicket-keeper Prior and Collingwood set the foundation of England's score, with Prior adding a rapid 74 for the second wicket with Vikram Solanki (26).

Rao Iftikhar and Tahir Khan took two wickets apiece for the home team.

Pakistan A opener Raffatullah Mohammand scored a brilliant 76-ball 55 to set the team up for the run chase, but Collingwood (2-36) and Anderson threatened to derail them with good bowling before Bazid's heroics.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)