The T20 series between Pakistan and England is getting interesting with every passing match. After England won the third match, Pakistan roared back with a 3-run win in the fourth match to level the series 2-2.
After the end of the first innings, it looked like England would win the game easily. Pakistan had scored only 166 runs at the end of the first innings. M Rizwan starred with bat with a stellar knock of 88 runs in 67 balls, including 9 fours and 1 six.
Babar Azam and Rizwan put on a 97-run stand inside the first 12 overs for the first wicket. However, once Babar (36 off 28) got out, the innings slowed down. Masood never looked good for his 19-ball 21.
The likes of Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, and Nawaz arrived at the crease too late. Asif Ali smacked 2 sixes in the final over to propel Pakistan to 166 runs in the first innings. England, in reply, made an awful start as the likes of Philip Salt (8), Alex Hales (5), and Will Jacks (0) departed early. Pakistan had lost three wickets for just 14 runs on the board.
Den Duckett ensured England keep up with the required rate but he too couldn’t convert the start into a big score. Duckett made 33 off 24 balls but his wicket in the 8th over meant England lost 4 for 57.
Harry Brooks (34 off 29), Moeen Ali (29 off 20) and Dawson (34 off 17) all looked good but couldn’t stay till the end as Pakistan kept chipping in with wickets in short intervals.
Dawson smashed Hasnain four fours and a six to gain 24 runs from the 18th over. England needed only 9 runs in the final two overs. However, Harris Rauf then claimed two wickets in the 19th over and gave only 5 runs to leave the equation down to 4 needed in the final over and 1 wicket remaining.
Wasim Jr. then picked the last wicket on the second ball of the over to help Pakistan win a cracker of a game by 3 runs.
Squad
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Asif Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir
England: Moeen Ali (captain), Will Jacks, Harry Brook, Olly Stone, Ben Duckett, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, David Willey
