Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan combined to guide England to a five-wicket win over Pakistan at Old Trafford.
The result put the home side 1-0 up in the T20 international series, with just Tuesday’s final game to play.
Even though the first game in the series, two days earlier, had been rained out a long way before its scheduled conclusion, Pakistan had already suffered criticism.
They had opted against trying either of their new young talents Haider Ali, the teenager, or Khushdil Shah. Instead, they went with two players closing in fast on their 40th birthdays.
Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Hafeez were both retained for this game. While Malik came and went quickly with the bat, Hafeez showed he still has plenty to offer.
Hafeez, who turns 40 in October, blazed 69 from just 36 balls. With captain Babar Azam having made his customary half century at the top of the order, Pakistan were able to post 195-4 from their 20 overs.
It meant England would require the biggest successful run chase in any T20 match at Old Trafford if they were to force victory.
There was only a brief moment they looked like they were going to do anything but win.
Tom Banton and Jonny Bairstow out on 66 for the first wicket – only to both fall in successive deliveries in Shadab Khan’s first over.
First, Bairstow top edged a slog to leg up to Imad Wasim on 44. Off the next ball, Shadab trapped Banton lbw with a googly.
Although Morgan and Malan started cautiously against the spin of Shadab and Iftikhar Ahmed, they were soon into their work.
Morgan has fond memories of Old Trafford already. It was at this ground where he struck a World Cup record for sixes in an innings as he razed Afghanistan’s bowlers in 2019.
He found his range again this time, hitting four sixes and six fours in a whirlwind knock worth 66 from 33 balls, on his way to the man of the match award.
Between him and Malan, they had the decisive alliance in the match, putting on 112 from 62 deliveries.
Although Morgan fell, to a catch by Khushdil – on as a substitute fielder – off the bowling of Haris Rauf, with the job still to finish, England had no trouble sealing the victory.
Sam Billings came to the wicket and maintained the rate with a breezy 10 off five balls, before he also fell to Rauf with the scores level.
Fittingly, it was left to Malan to score the winning runs. He hit the first ball of the final over for four, to finish on 54 not out from 36 balls.
That means Malan now has a career average of 54.50 in T20Is, with seven scores in excess of 50 in his 12 matches so far.
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Player ratings for England v Pakistan Test series
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Rory Burns – 3: He is 2020 personified: a huge blow at the start of the year, and has scarcely improved since. Injured playing football in January, struggled against West Indies, and averaged a paltry five against Pakistan. Dropped catches, too. PA -
Dom Sibley – 6: A best of just 36 from four innings, but it still feels as if he is doing his job. The fact only Buttler and Crawley faced more balls than he did shows his appetite to dig in, which is crucial to this England team’s gameplan. Getty -
Zak Crawley – 9.5: Just 22, and with a mere eight Tests to his name, but he must already feel like he has completed cricket. He will forever have a higher Test best (267) than Sachin Tendulkar (248 not out). Must remember to take catches off James Anderson, though. PA -
Joe Root – 6: His batting continues to confound. For one of the few times in his career, he went through a multi-Test series without a half-century. But the side are now purring under his captaincy, which earns him much credit. AP -
Ollie Pope – 6: One half-century in the series, but it was a vital one, as it gave England a foothold in the first Test match. It must be hoped the shoulder injury he suffered last year has not been exacerbated. AFP -
Jos Buttler – 9: Was heading for a zero given the way the first three-quarters of the opening Test panned out. He was little short of heroic thereafter. Won the first game with the bat, made his highest first-class score in the third, and held some stunning catches. PA -
Ben Stokes – 5: A rare quiet Test for England’s Mr Incredible in the opener (two crucial wickets notwithstanding) and then headed to New Zealand for personal reasons. Reuters -
Chris Woakes – 7: The hero with the bat in alliance with Buttler in the first match, and perfectly reliable with the ball, too – even if he did not quite match the heights he set against West Indies. AFP -
San Curran – 5: Did not bat, and bowled just the 18 overs in the one Test he did play, before heading off to play for Surrey by the end of the series. AP -
Dom Bess – 5: Seven England bowlers averaged better than him in the series. He seems to have his place as the No 1 spinner nailed down, without ever looking especially dangerous with the ball. Getty -
Stuart Broad – 9: Started this odd summer out of the England side, yet ended it as their outstanding player. Followed up his remarkable return against West Indies with 13 wickets at 16.46 against Pakistan. PA -
Jofra Archer – 6: England appear to be searching for the best way to use Archer. By the end of the third game, it was apparent they wanted him bowling at high velocity, in short, sharp bursts. He was none too threatening, though. PA -
James Anderson – 7, The fact some observers were pensioning him off after his unusually limp start to the summer was only going to motivate him. He ended the summer with the warm glow of a 600th Test wicket. Getty -
Shan Masood – 7: Must have been emotionally spent after playing the innings of his life in the opener, seeing as he followed up that 156 with just 23 runs in four innings. Still, just about ahead on the balance of the series. AP -
Abid Ali – 6, Opening in England is not easy task. Neither is Test cricket – even if Abid made it look as though it was on his arrival on the scene last year. Found the going tough initially, but impressed by the way he looked to grind out scores thereafter. AP -
Azhar Ali – 7: Looked totally beleaguered with his side at 1-0 down, and having conceded 583 for eight to confirm series defeat. Then he played a courageous rearguard that even earned praise from the great Brian Lara. Getty -
Babar Azam – 7: Not quite the show-stopper he was billed as pre-series, but he still averaged nearly 50 and looked the classiest batsman on show for Pakistan. Getty -
Asad Shafiq – 4: Pakistan needed more from the longest serving Test player in their side. Just 67 runs at 13.4 is a meagre return. The final indignity was when he fell to Joe Root as the sides were going through the motions at the end of the final day. Getty -
Fawad Alam – 5, He will be hopefull the wait for his next Test appearance will not be as long the lead up to this one. Eleven years between matches, and then he started his return with a duck. Getty -
Mohammed Rizwan – 9: Stole the show with his quicksilver glovework, most notably when stood up to Mohammed Abbas, but also made some valuable contributions with the bat, too. AFP -
Shadab Khan – 6: A little unlucky to miss out after a perky display with the bat in the one Test he played, as well as two wickets having been under-bowled, but Pakistan wanted an extra batting specialist. AP -
Yasir Shah – 7: Pakistan’s most experienced bowler, but he might not having been regarded as their most likely threat heading to the greentops of the UK. He was the leading wicket-taker by a distance, though, with 11 at 33.45. Getty -
Shaheen Afridi – 5: Started the series in rampant fashion, dismissing Rory Burns with the fourth delivery Pakistan bowled, but his returns fizzled rather than sparkled from then on. AFP -
Naseem Shah – 5: Arrived in England on a wave of hype, but only managed three wickets in the series. Still, though, he will be better for the experience and he has the world at his feet. Getty -
Mohammed Abbas – 6: It felt as though he was constantly threatening, and yet he ended up with just the five wickets. His economy rate of 2.29 – the best of either side – was more a clue to the challenge he posed. Reuters
