England delivered an impressive all-round performance, overpowering Pakistan by seven wickets at the Oval on Thursday in their final competitive match before they start defending their T20 World Cup title. The victory gave England a 2-0 win in a four-match T20 series, as games at Headingley and Cardiff were both washed out without a ball bowled.
England’s dominant victory over Pakistan
England made a blistering start chasing a modest target of 158, with Phil Salt (45) and skipper Jos Buttler (39) sharing a rapid opening stand of 82. Their aggressive approach set the tone for the chase, putting Pakistan’s bowlers on the back foot from the outset. Harry Brook ended the game with a six, as England finished on 158/3, winning with 27 balls to spare.
Also READ: Twitter reactions: Clinical England wrap up T20I series with resounding win over Pakistan
Key moments in Pakistan’s innings
Earlier in the match, Pakistan had been well-placed at 59/0 in the sixth over of their innings. However, they slumped to 86/5 in a dramatic collapse. The turning point came when captain Babar Azam, having struck Jofra Archer for successive fours, was caught at slip in the same over of Archer, departing for a well-made 36. This triggered a collapse that saw Pakistan lose five wickets for just 27 runs.
Adil Rashid’s magic delivery to Mohammad Rizwan
A pivotal moment in the match occurred during the seventh over of Pakistan’s innings. On the fourth delivery, Mohammad Rizwan, having scored 23 off 16 balls, prepared for a front-foot defense anticipating a leg-spin. Instead, Adil Rashid delivered a clever wrong’un that sneaked between Rizwan’s bat and pad, dislodging the stumps. The ball’s slow pace and slight movement deceived Rizwan, who looked back in astonishment. Rashid celebrated enthusiastically, and England captain Buttler displayed excitement also as the stumps were disturbed.
Here’s the video:
First over for Rashid. First wicket for Rashid.
Simple. #EnglandCricket | #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/BIiUDEHaCQ
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 30, 2024
England’s bowling prowess
England’s bowlers were instrumental in restricting Pakistan to 157. Adil Rashid took 2/27 from his four overs, demonstrating his skill and control. Fellow spinner Liam Livingstone struck twice in an over, adding to Pakistan’s woes. Fast bowler Mark Wood also made significant contributions, taking two wickets with well-directed bouncers. Despite a brief rain break, Usman Khan repaired some of the damage for Pakistan with a brisk 38. Later on, Naseem Shah played some shots to help Pakistan reach 157 before being bundled out in 19.5 overs.
Also READ: England T20 World Cup 2024 schedule and squad: Date, Match time, Team List & Live Streaming details
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