 Strauss was an early casualty as England were skittled at Lord's |
Andrew Strauss said being forced to bat first was the key to their defeat by Pakistan in the second one-dayer. The hosts were shot out for 166 in seam-friendly conditions before Pakistan eased home by seven wickets.
"It was probably a bad toss to lose and all credit to Pakistan because they put the ball in the right areas from the start and that put us under pressure.
"I think it's a little bit easier when you know you're only chasing 166," skipper Strauss explained.
"It was always going to be hard work to defend but you've got to give Pakistan credit.
"They sucked up the pressure and once they'd got in and the ball was softer it was a little bit easier - they did a pretty professional job."
Defeat continued a difficult summer for England in limited-overs games, which have seen them lose eight out of nine matches - with the opening match of this series abandoned.
 | Shoaib and Asif were excellent with the new ball |
But Strauss said the performance of seamer Jon Lewis, who took 2-11 in eight overs, was a positive.
"He was magnificent. He's been spending a lot of time on the sidelines this summer and to bowl like that was first-rate," he added.
Winning skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq was full of praise for pacemen Shoaib Akhtar, who took 4-28, and Mohammad Asif (2-10).
"The boys are playing really well, especially the bowlers. Shoaib and Asif were excellent with the new ball and hopefully they can continue like that," he enthused.
"There was pace, swing - everything was there - and they bowled in the right channels.
"As a captain it's tremendous to have that."
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Interview: England captain Andrew Strauss