Pakistan posted 164 for 8 in 20 overs against England in a decisive Super 8 match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The high-stakes Group 2 contest is being played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Both teams are fighting for a place in the semifinals.
After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha chose to bat first. He described the pitch as fresh and suitable for setting a defendable total. Pakistan aimed to post a competitive score under pressure.
However, the innings began cautiously. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub tried to settle early. England bowlers applied tight pressure from the start. As a result, Pakistan lost early wickets and struggled to build momentum.
Farhan Anchors Innings After Early Setbacks
Pakistan suffered an early blow when Saim Ayub fell for 7 runs. Soon after, captain Salman Ali Agha was dismissed for 5. Pakistan slipped to 27 for 2 inside the powerplay.
Then, Babar Azam joined Farhan at the crease. The experienced duo stabilized the innings with a steady partnership. They added 46 runs for the third wicket. Babar scored 25 before departing at 73.
Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, Sahibzada Farhan held the innings together. He played with patience and confidence. Farhan completed a composed half-century under pressure. He struck seven fours and two sixes during his knock of 63 runs.
Moreover, Farhan built a crucial 49-run partnership with Fakhar Zaman for the fourth wicket. That stand pushed Pakistan to 122 and revived hopes of a strong finish. However, England broke through again when Farhan was dismissed.
Fakhar added 25 valuable runs before falling at 132. After that, Pakistan lost momentum. Usman Khan scored 8, Mohammad Nawaz fell for a duck, and Shaheen Shah Afridi managed only 2. England bowlers controlled the death overs effectively. Consequently, Pakistan closed at 164 for 8.
Semifinal Stakes and Team Combinations
Pakistan made one change to the playing XI. Shaheen Afridi replaced Faheem Ashraf to strengthen the bowling attack. The lineup includes Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shadab Khan.
Meanwhile, England captain Harry Brook fielded an unchanged side for the fifth straight match. The squad features Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and other key players.
Brook admitted that England would also have preferred to bat first. He noted that the surface looked better than during their previous match against Sri Lanka. Furthermore, he said England had not yet produced their best performance in the tournament.
England hold a strong record at Pallekele. They have won four matches at the venue in the past month. Historically, England have also dominated Pakistan in T20 World Cups. They have won all three previous encounters in the tournament.
In contrast, Pakistan’s Super 8 opener against New Zealand was washed out. Therefore, Pakistan have only one point and a lower net run rate. England sit on two points with a strong net run rate of +2.55.
For England, a win guarantees a semifinal berth. For Pakistan, defending 164 runs is vital to keep their campaign alive. The pressure remains intense as both teams chase a place in the knockout stage.
