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KARACHI: England’s Alex Hales made his first blunder midway through their chase of 159 in their first encounter in Pakistan since 2005.
Playing in his first international encounter in three years, the explosive opener blasted a flat shot off Pakistani spinner Usman Qadir straight into Shan Masood’s hands at mid-wicket, but the debutant instantly got a reprieve when he spilled it.
In Tuesday’s opening Twenty20 International at the National Stadium, England did lose Ben Duckett two balls in, but Harry Brook’s arrival saw his side through with four balls and six wickets remaining.
The right-hander, who earlier this year with Lahore Qalandars won the Pakistan Super League, finished undefeated with 42 off 25 knocks, including seven fours.
Having Hales at the other end to provide reassurance, Brook made sure that England controlled the asking rate. In the 13th over, he started the match-winning assault with a straight hit off a Usman full toss.
Brook dispatched pacer Shahnawaz Dahani for two fours in the next over after deftly navigating slow left-armer Mohammad Nawaz. Hales then celebrated his survival by bludgeoning the right-armer down the ground for another boundary.
In the next over, Brook again demonstrated his lack of regard for Pakistan’s speed spearhead, Naseem Shah, by hitting three boundaries off the right-arm.
Although Pakistan managed to nab Hales in the 17th over with to fast bowler Haris Rauf, it was too late as England just needed to get 16 out of 18. Moeen Ali, England’s interim captain, scored a boundary, and Brook added two more to put the team over the finish line.
Earlier in the innings, England had set the base thanks to Hales, who scored 53 off 40.
The PSL right-hander, who plays for Islamabad United, lost fellow starter Phil Salt to Dahani in the third over, but Haider Ali’s spectacular fielding at square leg gave the visitors impetus in the powerplay.
Hales formed brief partnerships with Dawid Malan and Duckett, scoring 34 off 23 and 34 off 27, respectively, but Usman broke the pair up, allowing Brook to reach the middle.
In contrast to England, Pakistan’s innings ended far too soon.
Once again, the hosts’ problems against spin and their over-reliance on the openers were evident as they were unable to build on the explosive starts made by Mohammad Rizwan (68 off 46) and skipper Babar Azam (31 off 24).
The captain of Pakistan opened the innings with a whip between his legs for a boundary, displaying the grace and class for which he is renowned.
The National Stadium’s full stands erupted in applause for Babar when he dispatched Sam Curran through the leg side once more. Afterward, Rizwan drew the crowd’s attention with a domineering cut of David Willey and a square-leg blow to his Multan Sultans teammate.
Before England leg-spinner Adil Rashid tricked Babar with an unplayable googly that trapped the right-hander in the tenth over and left Pakistan at 87-1 at the conclusion, the Pakistani openers continued to score easily.
With spinners working from both ends, Pakistan’s run rate declined even though the highly effective Rizwan was still at the crease.
The only boundary Pakistan hit between the dismissals of Babar and Haider—who came into bat and reached number three before being caught at deep square leg off Curran in the 14th over—was a six against Rashid in the 12th over.
In the fifteenth over, Shan hit a boundary off Moeen Ali with an extra cover. Three balls later, Rizwan, who had already made 68 from 46, was bowled out.
Shan’s debut was marred when he was dismissed by Rashid in the following over, leaving Pakistan at 127-4 at the conclusion of the 16th over.
It was left to Mohammad Nawaz and Iftikhar Ahmed to add the finishing touch.
Iftikhar gave fans hope when he lifted Willey over long-on for a huge six, but five balls later, Nawaz lost his stumps to Luke Wood’s pace and swing.
In the last over, Wood finally got rid of Iftikhar (28), but not before being hammered for another maximum and the pacer dismissing the last man Naseem.
Pakistan was ultimately unable to celebrate England’s eagerly anticipated return to the nation with a victory due to the poor performance.
A scoreboard
Pakistan
Moeen 68; Muhammad Rizwan st. Salt b.
Rashid Babar Azam 31
Willey c, Curran b, Haider Ali 11
Masood Shan, Gleeson, and Rashid 7
Iftikhar Ahmed b. Wood c. Duckett
Wood, Mohammad Nawaz, 4
Shah Khushdil not out of five
Wood 0 Naseem Shah c Curran b
Not out 0 is Usman Qadir.
EXTRAS (W-4) 4
TOTAL (for 20 overs and seven wickets): 158
DID NOT ACT: S. Dahani, H. Rauf,
WICKET FALL: 1-85 (Babar), 2-109 (Haider), 3-117 (Rizwan), 4-120 (Shan), 5-137 (Nawaz), 6-156 (Iftikhar), 7-157 (Naseem)
BOWLING: Gleeson 2-0-13-0, Rashid 4-0-27-2 (1w), Moeen 2-0-23-1 (1w), Willey 4-0-41-0 (2w), Curran 4-0-30-1, and Wood 4-0-24-3
ENGLAND
Haider c. P. Salt b. Dahani 10
A. Hales b. Haris c. Babar
Usman 20 c & b D. Malan
Duckett B, Usman 21 lbw
H. Brook remains unbeaten 42
Not out yet, Moeen Ali
EXTRAS (W- 5, LB- 2) 7
TOTAL (160.2 overs, four wickets)
S. Curran, D. Willey, Adil Rashid, L. Wood, and R. Gleeson DID NOT BAT.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-Salt, 2-Malan, 3-87, 4-142, and 3-87, Malan
BOWLING: Haris 4-0-23-1, Usman 4-0-36-2, Nawaz 4-0-20-0, Dahani 3.2-0-38-1, Naseem 4-0-41-0 (1w).
END: England triumphed by six wickets.
SERIES: England is up 1-0 in the seven-game series.
STAR OF THE GAME: Luke Wood
