Sharjeel, Khalid secure Pakistan 9-wicket win over England
Sharjeel, Khalid secure Pakistan 9-wicket win over England
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Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif scored quickfire half-centuries as Pakistan defeated England by nine wickets in the only Twenty20 International (T20I) at Old Trafford, Manchester, late on Wednesday.

Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif scored quickfire half-centuries as Pakistan defeated England by nine wickets in the only Twenty20 International (T20I) at Old Trafford, Manchester, late on Wednesday.

It was a boundary-galore as the pair registered a 107-run opening stand hitting 17 boundaries in the first 10 overs.

The ball crossed the boundary rope 22 times in total.

The two came out all guns blazing as the opening duo struck record 73 runs in the powerplay overs — overshadowing Pakistan’s previous best of 72 against Zimbabwe.

Sharjeel, who registered his second T20I half-century with a towering six over cow corner off Adil Rashid, fell in the 12th over as he tried a cross-bat heave off the leg-spinner.

The left-handed batsman struck seven fours and three sixes in his 36-ball 59.

On the other hand, Khalid continued the onslaught and went on to score his maiden fifty of the format with a six over mid-wicket.

He remained unbeaten on 59 from 42 balls. The 30-year-old hit 10 boundaries — eight fours and two sixes.

Earlier, in what was a disciplined show by Pakistan bowlers, that restricted England to 135 for seven in 20 overs. Half of England’s batting line-up was back in the pavilion by the end of the 15th over as the hosts were 105 for five.

Left-arm orthodox Imad Wasim dismissed both England openers — Jason Roy and Alex Hales — to reduce England to two down for 67 in nine overs during the ongoing one-off Twenty20 International (T20I) against Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Roy, who struck two fours and a towering six — off Sohail Tanvir — in his 20-ball 21, fell during the seventh over after he accumulated 56 runs along Hales for the first wicket on Wednesday.

Going for a reverse sweep off Imad Wasim, Roy was given LBW when the left-arm orthodox’s straighter delivery crashed into the batter’s pads.

Starting the proceedings quietly, the openers turned screws on the Pakistani bowlers during the third over.

Left-arm fast-bowler Mohammad Amir was welcomed with a pull-shot by Roy that crashed into the mid-wicket boundary in the third over of the innings when England were eight without a loss.

The two batsmen piled up 41 runs in the next 23 balls.

Hales, who hit 37 off 26 with five fours, fell during Imad’s third over trying to attempt a cross-bat shot.

Imad, who opened the bowling for Pakistan by conceding just two singles, gave away 17 runs at an economy just over four per over in his quota of four overs.

In the 10th over, Hasan Ali removed Joe Root, who had replaced Roy, for the third consecutive time on the tour on the first ball of his second over which reduced the hosts to three for 67.

Jos Buttler, who failed to scoop pacers on umpteen occasions, handed an easy catch to Shoaib Malik at the cover boundary off Wahab Riaz during the 14th over which was followed by Ali’s second wicket — Ben Stokes — 10 balls later.

Wahab, who impressed with terrific line and length bowling, picked up England captain and David Willey to end with three wickets — the most in the innings — at just 6 runs apiece.

Toss

England captain Morgan opted to bat first against Pakistan in the one-off Twenty20 International (T20I) at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Captaining Pakistan for the first time, Sarfraz Ahmed admitted that he would have liked to bat first.

The wicketkeeper batsman further added that he wants to end the England tour on a high note with a win, during the post-toss conversation with Mike Atherton.

Tanvir returned to the national side after a 10-month-long hiatus.

England fielded the same side that lost the ICC World T20 final to Darren Sammy-led West Indies earlier in April this year.

Team line-ups

England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (C), Jos Buttler (W), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Liam Plunkett, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Adil Rashid.

Pakistan: Khalid Latif, Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (C)(W), Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali.