London [UK]: Some brilliant bowling from pacer Mark Wood and spinner Adil Rashid, combined with some ferocious batting from openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, helped England secure the series victory with a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the fourth and final T20I in London on Thursday night.
With this win, England won the four-match series 2-0. Two matches were abandoned due to rain, meaning only the second and fourth T20Is were played.
Opting to bat first, England’s bowlers were treated to some excellent batting from the opening pairing of skipper Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan, who were paired together for the first time in a long time, as Pakistan reached 50 in just 5.3 overs.
But the partnership came to an end on the final ball of the powerplay when Captain Babar was caught by Rashid at short third man off a Jofra Archer delivery for 36 off 22 balls, including five fours and one six. Pakistan were 59 for 1 after six overs.
England spinners Rashid and Moin Ali then dominated the Pakistan batting, taking wickets one after the other. Pakistan slumped to 86/5 in 10.2 overs. Rashid showed his prowess with the ball, unleashing a web of spin that Pakistan could not escape, taking the wickets of Rizwan and Shadab Khan. Wicket-keeper-batsman Azam Khan was also ducked out by a strong bounce ball from Mark Wood which hit his glove and went into Buttler’s hands.
However, Usman Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed provided stability for Pakistan as they crossed the 100-run mark in 11.5 overs. Usman’s promising innings was shortened to 38 runs off 21 balls thanks to a good catch by Liam Livingstone. He hit three fours and two sixes. Pakistan were 126/6 in 14.3 overs.
The lower order didn’t put in much effort and Pakistan were bowled out for 157 runs in 19.5 overs.
Rashid and Livingstone were England’s top bowlers. Mark Wood took 2/35 in his four overs. Archer, Jordan and Moeen each took one wicket.
Chasing runs, England openers Salt and Buttler launched a ferocious attack that saw half the total taken away in the six overs of the powerplay. Young pacer Naseem Shah was the worst hit of the pacers, being given away 33 in two overs, including in the fifth over when Buttler smashed Shah for three fours and a six in the space of four balls to take him to 25, immediately after Salt smashed an off-cutter over deep midwicket for a six.
After six overs England were 78/0.
Haris Rauf’s pace provided the breakthrough for Pakistan, who dismissed Salt for 45 (six fours, two sixes) off 24 balls. England were 82 for 1 in 6.2 overs.
England did not compromise on their batting and reached 100 in 8.5 overs, but then Buttler was out and Rauf scored for the second time, caught by wicketkeeper Azam. The England captain finished with 39 runs off 21 balls, including seven fours and one six. England were 101/2 in the 9th over.
Rauf next dismissed Will Jacks, who completed a fine cameo of 20 runs with a four and a six off 18 balls. England were 112/3 after 11 overs.
The pair of Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook wasted no time as they finished the chase at 158/3 in 15.3 overs.
Rauf performed brilliantly for Pakistan but it wasn’t enough.
Adil Rashid was named ‘Masterpiece’ for this performance.
This article has been generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.
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