Second T20
England emerged victorious over Pakistan by 23 runs in the second T20 match held in Birmingham on Saturday. Despite Pakistan winning the toss and opting to bowl first, England posted a formidable total of 183 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
The star of England’s innings was Jos Buttler, who played a captain’s knock, scoring an impressive 84 runs off just 51 balls.
His innings was laced with boundaries, showcasing his aggressive batting style. Will Jacks provided solid support with a brisk 37 runs off 23 balls, helping to set a challenging target for the visitors.
On the bowling front, Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 36 runs. His early breakthroughs were crucial in keeping England’s run rate in check.
Imad Wasim and Haris Rauf also contributed with the ball, each taking 2 wickets and helping to restrict England’s score.
Chasing a target of 184, Pakistan faced a rocky start, losing their first wicket for just 1 run. Fakhar Zaman attempted to anchor the innings with a blistering 45 runs off 21 balls, but his effort was cut short by Liam Livingstone.
Babar Azam, the Pakistani captain, scored a steady 32 runs, while contributions from Iftikhar Ahmed (23) and Imad Wasim (22) provided some hope for the visitors.
However, England’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout Pakistan’s innings, eventually bowling them out for 160 runs in 19.2 overs. The disciplined bowling attack ensured that Pakistan could not build any significant partnerships, ultimately securing England a 23-run victory.
The first match of the series was washed out due to rain, making this the first completed game of the series, giving England an early lead.
The squads for the match were as follows:
- England: Jos Buttler (captain and wicketkeeper), Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley.
- Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan (wicketkeeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir.
England’s comprehensive performance in both batting and bowling allowed them to outclass Pakistan and secure a crucial win in the series. The teams will look forward to the upcoming matches to either consolidate their lead or make a comeback.
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