Eoin Morgan & Dawid Malan led the way in the run chase as England defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets with five balls to spare.
Full Scorecard: PAK vs ENG Live Score & Updates
Pakistan was asked to Bat first by England’s Captain Eoin Morgan after winning the all-important toss at Emirates Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester. The Green team registered their highest T20I score against England with 195 for 4 from their 20 overs quota
Pakistani talisman Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman scored 56 & 36 respectively but it was Hafeez who finally got a chance to showcase his skills after a long wait on this tour. The 39-year-old veteran showed why he is an integral part of the team, shutting the critics with 36 balls 69 and made a strong statement that he still has a lot to offer. Adil Rashid was the star performer for England with the ball picking up 2 wickets for 32.
Bairstow and Banton laid a strong foundation by posting 65 in the powerplay. Pakistan made a strong comeback by removing both the openers in successive deliveries but it didn’t change the course of the game. Morgan survived a Pakistani review for lbw based on Umpire’s call on Impact and since then he shifted the accelerating gear and took Pakistani bowlers to cleaners. Morgan departed with 66 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 200. Malan, however, capitalized on the slow start and Played an anchor role in the Partnership of 112 runs with Eoin Morgan for the 3rd wicket. He made sure England crosses the line and remained unbeaten on 54 runs. Although Pakistan struck a couple of Wickets in the end but it was too late to deny England’s Victory. Shadab Khan again impressed with his wicket-taking ability grasped 3 scalps for 34 runs. England scored 199 for 5 in 19.1 overs beating Pakistan compressively leading the 3 match series 1-0.
It looked a mammoth task for a team lacking key members but Morgan and Malan had some other plans. Morgan is currently enjoying the form of his life with 4 half-centuries in hin last 7 T20I games, while Malan averages 54.60 in T20I format with seven 50+ scores including a century.
Eoin Morgan was awarded Man of the Match for his match-winning innings of 66. The third and final match of the series & tour will the Played at the same venue on 1st September.