8 Nov 2015 | Cricket
Moeen Ali smashed 71 from 36 balls as England thrashed Hong Kong by 169 runs in their warm-up for the one-day international series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
Opener Alex Hales also struck a half-century at the Sheikh Zayed Oval as England amassed 342 for eight from their 50 overs, before David Willey took four wickets as Hong Kong were rolled over for 173.
Hales hit 64 at the top of the order and there was a welcome return to form for Jos Buttler as the wicketkeeper made 38 from 37 deliveries.
Jason Roy had got the tourists off to a flyer with 42 off 32 balls in an opening stand of 63 with Hales, but fell leg-before wicket to Tanwir Afzal.
Hales smashed Anshuman Rath over square-leg for six after reaching his fifty, but the bowler had his revenge when the next ball beat the Nottinghamshire man and clipped off stump.
Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and James Taylor all got useful runs under their belts ahead of Wednesday's series opener, before Buttler and Moeen shared one of four half-century partnerships.
Moeen had struggled for runs as an opener in the Test series, but put on a display of white-ball pyrotechnics with five sixes and six fours in his knock, which ended when he holed out to deep midwicket.
Left-armer Willey removed both Hong Kong openers with the new ball en route to figures of 4-43 to immediately derail the 15th-ranked team in the world's chase.
First Roy took a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Kinchit Shah, and Willey struck again in his next over as Rath departed lbw.
Hampshire's Reece Topley ensured the left-armers continued to shine as he saw off Nizakat Khan thanks to a superb catch from Buttler.
Babar Hayat provided some resistance with an impressive 78, as he and Chris Carter happily milked England's spinners to more than double the score in a third-wicket stand of 81.
The run-rate quickly got away from Hong Kong, and two more quick wickets, including Babar bowled trying to charge the returning Chris Woakes, brought about a swift victory for England