ISLAMABAD: Despite Fakhar Zaman’s quick knock of 45 off just 21 balls assisted by Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed with 32 and 23 respectively, England managed to beat Pakistan by 23 runs in the 2nd contest of the four-match T20I series at Birmingham on Saturday. Except Fakhar and Babar Pakistan’s top and middle order almost collapsed resulting in defeat in the contest.
Chasing 184 to win, Pakistan’s batting line came under pressure in the very first over when England introduced a spinner Moeen Ali dismissed the inform Muhammad Rizwan on a duck. Rizwan was replaced by out-of-form Saim Ayub was also departed in the fourth over after scoring just 2 runs.
After two quick wickets Babar Azam and Fakhar managed to stay on the crease for some time where Fakhar Zaman played some good strokes. However, after contributing 53 runs partnership, Babar Azam was got Leg Before the Wicket BY Moeen Ali.
The next was Shadab Khan who was dismissed by Adil Rasheed on just 3. At the stage, Pakistan were 78 for 4 in 9.3 overs. On the other hand, Fakhar Zaman continued his aggressive play against English bowlers.
After Shadab, wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan joined Fakhar Zaman. But Azam also didn’t deliver up to the mark and added just 11 runs to the total before being dismissed by Archor. Azam was replaced by Iftikhar Ahmad.
Meanwhile, due to the falling of wickets with intervals, the run rate went high. As a result the set batter Fakhar Zaman also got out in an attempt to accelerate the score further. He smashed a brilliant 45 runs inning while playing just 21 balls. He was replaced by Imad Waseem. At the stage, Pakistan were 99 for 6 in 12.2 overs.
Later Iftikhar and Imad accelerated the innings and created some hopes. However, on the last ball of the 16th over Iftikhar was dismissed on 23 on 17 balls. The dismissal of Iftikhar took England back into the game. In the next over Imad Waseem was also dismissed on 22. Pakistani tail added some runs to the total which were not enough to reach the target. Pakistan were all out on 160 in 19.2 overs as England won the match by 23 runs.
From England, Topley got 3 wickets, while Moeen Ali and Archor got two wickets each. , Chris Jordan, Adil Rasheed and Liam Livingstone got one wicket each.
England Batting
Earlier, winning the toss, Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam invited England to bat. Both English openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt took a quick start and took the score to 25 in the first 3 overs. However, in the fourth over bowling change worked as Imad Waseem dismissed Salt on the very first ball.
He was replaced by Will Jacks who contributed 71 runs partnership with Buttler before he was dismissed by Haris Rauf on 37. The number four batter Jonny Bairstow also added some quick runs to the total but was removed by Shaheen Afridi on 25.
After Bairstow, no other batter stayed on the crease as Pakistani bowlers took some quick wickets. However, Jos Buttler protected one hand of the crease, completed his half-century and took the scoreboard ahead.
He scored 85 runs while facing 51 balls. In 20 overs England scored 183 for the loss of 7 wickets.
From Pakistan Shaheen Afridi was the leading wicket taker with 3 for 40 in his 4-over spill. Muhammad Amir and Imad Waseem took 2 wickets each.
Pakistan Squad
1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 4 Fakhar Zaman, 5 Shadab Khan, 6 Azam Khan, 7 Iftikhar Ahmed, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohammad Amir
England Squad
1 Jos Buttler (capt/wk), 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Liam Livingstone, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley
Pakistan Tour of England
May 22: First T20I at Leeds
May 25 (today): Second T20I at Birmingham
May 28: Third T20I at Cardiff
May 30: Fourth T20I at The Oval
Pakistan’s Initial Games in T20 World Cup 2024
June 6: Pakistan vs USA, Dallas
June 9: Pakistan vs India, New York
June 11: Pakistan vs Canada, New York
June 16: Pakistan vs Ireland, Lauderhill
