Hapless England became the latest victim of Pakistan's awesome firepower as they crashed to a 90-run defeat in the Champions Cup opener in the United Arab Emirates yesterday.

Wasim Akram's invincibles, fresh from a resounding tour of India, rode on a belligerent 137 off 130 balls by Ijaz Ahmed to pile up a record 323 for 5 after electing to take first strike.

England, who never had so many runs scored against them in a one-dayer, were shot out for 233 after the top order caved in.

Shoaib Akhtar struck in his first, third and fifth overs to reduce England to 53 for 3, before Graeme Hick and new sensation Andrew Flintoff hammered 94 off 90 balls for the fifth wicket.

Pakistan take on India today looking for their eighth straight limited-overs win against the arch-rivals.

Ijaz hit 12 boundaries and a six in his 10th one-day century as the Pakistanis flayed the English attack in good batting conditions at the Sharjah cricket stadium.

Pakistan came to Sharjah riding high after winning two of the three Tests against India, the inaugural Asian Test championship and the one-day series against India and World Cup champions Sri Lanka.

Akram's luck with the toss meant the Englishmen had to beat both the stifling heat and the easy-paced wicket to contain the deep Pakistani line-up.

England began well when Darren Gough removed the dangerous Saeed Anwar for 17, but it did not take long for Pakistan to wrest the initiative.