Right then, that wraps up this second T20I where England emerged as the dominant force over the visiting Pakistan! Next up is the third T20I, scheduled for the 28th of May, Tuesday at 11pm IST (5.30pm GMT). Be sure to join us early for all the pre-match build-up! Until then, cheers and goodbye!
Jos Buttler is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his outstanding knock of 84 off 51 balls. He says the team was focused on winning the game and there were great performances from everybody. Appreciates Jofra Archer and says that it was a really positive performance from him and is glad that he is back. Further adds that they have to give him games but also be mindful about resting him. Concludes by appreciating Chris Jordan for the way he bowled the last two overs and says it was exceptional stuff.
Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan, says that they bowled well but lacked in batting. Adds that they failed in stitching partnerships and lauds Fakhar Zaman’s efforts. Shares that their top four are flexible and the order changes depending on the form. Further says that the way Fakhar batted was impressive. Feels that if his partnership with Fakhar had lasted a few overs more, things would have been different. Lauds the bowling effort of Imad Wasim and adds that he is a very clever bowler and has improved a lot in batting too. Tells that they are not much concerned with the form of Shadab Khan. Ends by saying that their team is more or less settled ahead of the World Cup.
Time for the Presentation Ceremony..
Earlier in the game, Pakistan began strongly with Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim exerting control over the initial overs, resulting in the early dismissal of Phil Salt. However, the rest of the bowlers struggled to find their marks, allowing Jos Buttler to dominate with a masterclass in batting. Shadab Khan, in particular, couldn’t find his rhythm and conceded lots of runs. At the halfway mark in the innings, the dismissal of Will Jacks brought Jonny Bairstow to the crease, who launched a blistering attack with a quickfire cameo. Despite the onslaught, Pakistan staged a remarkable comeback in the death overs, chipping 5 English wickets for just 25 runs and bringing the game back into balance. Jos Buttler’s 84 off 51 balls was a display of pure class, anchoring England’s innings. For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi was the standout bowler with 3 wickets, while Imad Wasim was exceptional too, taking 2 wickets for just 19 runs in his 4 overs.
Pakistan got off to a disastrous start, with Mohammad Rizwan falling in the very first over, quickly followed by Saim Ayub, leaving them at a precarious 14/2. However, Fakhar Zaman arrived with a counter-attacking mindset, smashing four boundaries in his first four balls to settle the nerves and stabilise the innings which proved to be a change of fortune for the visitors. Babar Azam soon found his rhythm as well, and the boundaries began to flow at ease. Together, Fakhar and Babar led Pakistan to a strong recovery, reaching 55/2 by the end of the Powerplay. Unfortunately, Babar couldn’t capitalize on his promising start and was dismissed a couple of overs later. This triggered a collapse, with three more wickets falling in quick succession, causing Pakistan to slip further in their chase. Despite Iftikhar Ahmed and Imad Wasim’s efforts to take the game deep, the asking rate proved too high to get a grasp off, and the visitors were bundled out for 160 runs, ultimately losing the game by 23 runs.
It’s been an extraordinary display of bowling prowess from England to clinch this game by a margin of 23 runs. The bold move to open the bowling with Moeen Ali paid rich dividends for Jos Buttler and his squad, as they swiftly dismissed the dangerous Mohammad Rizwan for a duck. Reece Topley then entered the fray, snaring the wicket of Saim Ayub, amplifying the hosts’ early advantage. However, just as England seemed to be firmly in control, a spirited third-wicket partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam shifted the momentum briefly. Moeen Ali’s crucial breakthrough, dismissing Babar, opened the floodgates for the rest of the bowling unit to make inroads. This England team displayed immense character in the field, complemented by exceptional bowling, despite some resilience from the opposition, ultimately securing them the victory to lead the 4-match series 1-0.
Reece Topley to Shaheen Afridi
OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! All over for Pakistan! England win by 23 runs and go 1-0 up in the series! Topley slants this one back into the left-hander, on a length, on middle and leg, Shaheen Afridi backs away and goes for a heave across the line. Hits it towards the longer square boundary and fails to get the distance. Skies it towards deep mid-wicket where Phil Salt sprints across to his right and slides to grab it near his chest. Topley ends with 3 wickets to his name.
Reece Topley to Shaheen Afridi
Topley bowls it from over the wicket and goes full, at the batter, Shaheen Afridi swipes it off the inner half of the bat in front of deep mid-wicket and collects a couple of runs.
Reece Topley (3-0-39-2) will bowl the final over for England! Pakistan need 26 off 6 balls.
Chris Jordan to Shaheen Afridi
Delivers a low full toss, on off, Shaheen Afridi digs it out down the ground to long off for only a single. Just 18 runs have come off the last three overs. This has been excellent death bowling from England.
Chris Jordan to Haris Rauf
This is on a short of a length and with no real pace on it, Haris Rauf is through his shot early and toe-ends the shot to backward point for one.
Chris Jordan to Haris Rauf
Superb effort in the deep by Archer. Another searing yorker, on middle, Haris Rauf clears his front leg and takes it on the full. Tonks it to the left of long on where Jofra Archer covers good ground and tumbles to save a couple of runs for his side.
Haris Rauf is the last man to walk out to bat for Pakistan.
Chris Jordan to Mohammad Amir
OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! This has been a death bowling masterclass and it has been the slower ball that has done the trick for Chris Jordan. Jordan pulls his length back slightly and attacks the stumps this time. Mohammad Amir fails to pick the change of pace and gets inside the line to scoop it fine on the leg side. He gets undone by the lack of pace and gets his woodwork shattered.
Chris Jordan to Shaheen Afridi
Jordan continues to nail his yorkers! Sees Shaheen Afridi move to the off side does Jordan but holds his line and length, on a yorker length, wide on off, Shaheen Afridi shapes up for the scoop and does get some bat on it. The ball dribbles towards short fine leg and they scamper across for one.
Chris Jordan to Shaheen Afridi
Given LBW but Shaheen Afridi successfully overturns it! A loud shout and up goes the finger! Shaheen Afridi missed a straight delivery and had no hesitation in raising the finger. The impact might save Shaheen there. And yes, as expected, the Ball Tracking shows the impact to be outside leg. It was a full toss, angling in at the pads, Shaheen Afridi backed away to go across the line but missed to get hit low on the front pad.
Who will bowl the penultimate over? It will be Chris Jordan to continue and finish off his spell. Pakistan needs 31 off the last 2 overs.
Jofra Archer to Shaheen Afridi
Honing in at the stumps and the length stays full, Shaheen Afridi hits it along the ground to long on for just one. Pakistan need 31 runs off the last 2 overs.
Jofra Archer to Mohammad Amir
On a hard length angling into the left-hander, Mohammad Amir makes room and cuts it to deep cover for a single.
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