Mohammad Hafeez celebrates after the winning runs were scored in Pakistan's win over England ©Getty Images

A disappointing batting performance from tournament favourites England contributed to their surprise departure from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy today.

The hosts were thrashed by eight wickets at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff as Pakistan ran riot with the ball and then the bat.

As good as the Asian nation were, England were woeful with the bat as they chucked their wickets away, with eight catches and two run outs seeing them fall to an unremarkable 211.

Pakistan needed just 37.1 of their 50 overs to chase down the score.

After being put into bat, England made a decent start as they reached 80-1 before Jonny Bairstow, who came in to replace the out of form Jason Roy, was caught for 43.

Captain Eoin Morgan and Joe Root added 48 runs for the third wicket before the latter departed for 46.

This proved to be the point of no coming back for the hosts as their middle order was ripped apart by Pakistan’s bowling attack and some rather poor shot making as they fell to 162-6.

All-rounder Ben Stokes tried to steer the team to as respectable a score as he could, but he fell for 34 with 2.2 overs remaining, a period of the game where England could have done with some of his trademark lusty blows to the boundary.

England's Ben Stokes watches on as Pakistan dominate proceedings ©Getty Images
England's Ben Stokes watches on as Pakistan dominate proceedings ©Getty Images

Just another 10 runs were added to England’s total with Hasan Ali being the pick of the bowlers as he claimed three wickets for the cost of 35.

A good start was needed from the home bowlers for them to stand any real chance of victory, but after Mark Wood's first ball of the innings went down the leg side to be given as a wide, the tone was set.

Pakistan’s opening pair Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman only added to their opponent’s misery as they put on 118 runs for the first wicket.

A breakthrough finally came when Jos Buttler stumped Zaman for 56 off Adil Rashid’s bowling, but a partnership of 55 between Azhar and Babar Azam kept the pain coming for England.

The job was completed by Babar and Mohammad Hafeez after Pakistan’s other opener was bowled by Jake Ball for 76.

Pakistan will now contest the final on Sunday (June 18) at The Oval in London against either India or Bangladesh, with these two teams playing the second ICC Champions Trophy semi-final tomorrow at Edgbaston in Birmingham.