Hosts Pakistan edged England by six runs, going 3-2 up in the seven-game series. Mohammed Rizwan fought a lone battle, scoring yet another half-century to take his side to a total of 145.
In response, a wonderful effort from the English skipper Moeen Ali was not enough to take the honours. Nevertheless, both sides will be worried about the performance of their top-order batsmen after both sides had a forgettable day with the bat.
Ali won the toss at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore and put the hosts into bat on a surface that looked like it would offer some support to the bowlers. The skipper’s decision turned out to be the correct one. Veteran quick Mark Wood got rid of the big fish, Babar Azam, after a struggle in the middle.
Azam’s wicket was followed by some expansive strokeplay from Rizwan, the no. 1 ranked T20 batsman. However, it was just him who looked comfortable at the crease, as Wood and David Willey captured two quick wickets to put the hosts in a spot of bother.
Ifthikar Ahmed, who came in at No.5, offered some resistance to the English bowling, but not for long. Ahmed found Malan at backward point in an attempted uppercut that went horribly wrong for the Pakistan batter. It was at this point that the wickets just kept falling one after the other, as the Pakistan innings completely collapsed.
All-rounder Mohammed Nawaz, who was in good form at the Asia Cup 2022, was run out. Rizwan went into a shell at the other end and held fort until the end of the innings. The entire batting crumbled before him, leaving the bowlers with 146 runs to defend.
England’s reply was disappointing to say the least. Alex Hales both went back into the pavilion for single-digit scores, giving Pakistan the early upper hand. The left-handed Ben Duckett did score a couple of boundaries early in his innings but was left undone by some excellent bowling courtesy of Mohammed Wasim.
Yorkshire superstar Harry Brook was also dismissed early, and the onus now fell on the experienced duo of Dawid Malan and Moeen. Malan played far too many dot balls in his innings, interspersed with a number of boundaries but never upped the scoring rate, which was reflected in the rising asking rate. He eventually made the long walk back after scoring 36 in 35 deliveries. England were reduced to 85/6.
With 49 runs needed in the last four overs, it was a make or break for the England side. Ali did step on the accelerator, and to good effect, but a brilliant fielding effort at point off the first ball of the seventeenth saved three runs for the fielding team, which would ultimately prove invaluable. It was a game of fine margins, and efforts like that were what made the difference.
Nevertheless, Ali attacked the Pakistan bowlers, and scored quite a few boundaries in the end overs. England came very close to the target, needing 15 off the final over.
Ali was the favourite heading into the final over, but some brilliant bowling from the debutant Aamer Jamal meant that Pakistan won the game by six runs. His wonderful last over contained four dot balls, and Pakistan took a 3-2 lead in the series.
Brief scores
Pakistan 145 (Rizwan 63, Wood 3-20) beat England 139 for 7 (Moeen 51*) by six runs
