Jofra Archer, making his first appearance for England in over a year, took two wickets and was a great batting performer as England beat Pakistan by 23 runs in the second T20 international at Edgbaston.
The fast bowler (12 off fours) first hit a four and a six from the no.9 spot in the final over with England leading 183-7, before finishing with figures of 2-28 from four quick, deft overs after his first delivery went for 15 as Pakistan fought back for 160.
Archer last played for England in Bangladesh in March 2023 but missed the entire summer next year with an elbow problem and his hopes of a return in the first T20 at Headingley on Wednesday were marred by rain.
Archer took figures of 2-28 as England defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in the second T20 international.
But he played his first domestic game for England since 2020 on Saturday afternoon and hit 90mph on his return, giving him great encouragement ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup.
Archer had Azam Khan (11) caught at cover at the start of the second over before Imad Wasim (22 off 13) hit a york ball to the fielder at the same spot in the fourth over to end Pakistan’s chase.
Captain Jos Buttler’s 84 runs from 51 balls was another highlight for England, who will aim to wrap up the series victory in Cardiff on Tuesday before playing the final match at Kia Oval on Thursday.
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Check out Jos Buttler’s best shots as he scores 84 runs off 51 balls in the second T20 International
Buttler plays a blistering innings before some instability in the middle.
Archer was the first to turn around and watch after England were replaced by Pakistan on Saturday, and saw his team reach 144 for 2 within 15 overs thanks to Buttler’s 23rd T20 international fifty and Will Jacks’ 23-ball 37.
But then the home team had the gratification of seeing Archer’s late boundary add to their scoring total as their batsmen smashed into fielders over the fence to lose five wickets for 25 runs.
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Watch Archer hit a bounding line late in the game for England, with the home team leading 183-7 at Birmingham.
England’s batting started well and after the early dismissal of Phil Salt (13 off 9), Jacks and Buttler put on 71 runs off 42 balls for the third wicket.
Jax’s two sixes were both nailed to the ground, Sky Sports As commentators gleefully watched, Buttler recorded a stunning maximum score with a reverse sweep over extra cover off the costly Shadab Khan (0-55).
Jonny Bairstow (21 off 18) also contributed, but his run out caught deep square behind Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-36) sparked a slump in the middle order, Harry Brook (1) was run out trying to cut off a straight ball from economical left-arm spinner Imad (2-19) and Moeen Ali (4), Buttler and Chris Jordan (3) were all felled by the seamers.
But Archer smashed Mohammed Amir deep into third base with his first ball and then smashed a left-arm fastball over long-on for six to end England’s innings in style.
Archer recovers from costly first over
Archer then suffered a major blow while bowling Pakistan’s sixth over of the innings when Babar Azam (32 off 26) smashed a ball over Archer’s head before Fakhar Zaman (45 off 21) smashed it down the leg side for four and six.
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Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman scored six against England in their defeat at Edgbaston.
The England fast bowler was all smiles when he got Azam out in the second over of the top of the 12th over to take Pakistan to 91 for 5. In the top of the 13th over, Liam Livingstone got Fakhar out over long-on to take the score to 100 for 6.
Babar and Fakhar put on 53 off 28 balls for the third wicket after Mohammed Rizwan (0) and Saim Ayub (2) were run out early by Moeen (2-26) and Reece Topley (3-41) respectively, with Fakhar smashing the first three legal balls bowled by Topley to the boundaries.
Moin broke that position with a sweep to get Babar out lbw, and although Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals, Imad and Iftikhar (23 off 17 balls) combined to score 40 off 21 balls to unsettle England.
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Reece Topley took the final wicket as England defeated Pakistan in Birmingham on Saturday.
Iftikhar fell at the end of the 16th over – a brilliant swiveling catch by Jordan after the batsman had smashed a Topley delivery into the air – and the demand of 44 from the final four overs proved too tough for the visitors.
Archer’s wicket of Imad ended Pakistan’s hopes of victory and highlighted what England have missed not just over the past 12 months but also with the Barbados-born seamer’s frequent injury absence since his burst onto the international stage in 2019.
What’s next?
Tuesday, May 28th, 6pm
Thursday, May 30th, 6pm
England and Pakistan will face off in two more T20 internationals before the T20 World Cup – in Cardiff on Tuesday and at Kear Oval on Thursday, both matches kicking off at 6.30pm.
England’s T20 World Cup opener will be against Scotland in Barbados on Tuesday 4 June (kick-off 3.30pm), while Pakistan will take on co-hosts USA in Dallas on Thursday 6 July (kick-off 4.30pm).
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