England defeated Pakistan in the third and final T20 match of the series, winning the series 2-1. The last match of Pakistan’s tour of England ended in gripping fashion as the hosts hit six runs off the last over to win the game.
The visitors scored 154 in their 20 overs, with opener Mohammad Rizwan top-scoring with 76 runs from 57 balls. Hasan Ali added 15 quick runs to the total at the tail-end of the Pakistan innings. England spinner Adil Rashid was superb for his side, picking up four crucial wickets in his four overs.
England’s other spinner, Moeen Ali, was economical at the other end, conceding just 19 runs in his spell of four overs.
The English, in reply, got off to a blistering start, as the openers, Jason Roy and Jos Buttler put on 67 runs for the opening partnership before Buttler’s dismissal. Roy, though, continued his onslaught and top-scored with 64 runs to help England to a score of 92 when he was dismissed in the 12th over.
Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, and Moeen Ali fell cheaply, but captain Eoin Morgan’s 21-run cameo brought his side close to the target of 155. Chris Jordan finished off the game with two quick two’s winning it for England.
The English comeback in the series would have pleased captain Morgan and the management after they had lost their opening game of the T20 series. Morgan, in his post-match press conference, was unsure of the ball spinning as much in the World Cup but was happy about how his side chased the game.
“This is the worst wicket for our gameplan so we’ve managed to win against a very good side, so we will learn a huge amount. I don’t think the ball will spin like that in the UAE, it didn’t spin like that in the IPL, but unnatural as it is to play like that for Jos Buttler, the partnership with Roy set up the chase,” said Morgan.
The two sides will play with each other once again later this year before the T20 World Cup, which will take place in October and November in UAE. England will tour Pakistan in October to play two T20 matches days before the T20 World Cup.
England goes into the World Cup as the favorites along with India, and they will want to win the World Cup after falling at the final hurdle five years ago in India.
Before the T20 World Cup, the English will host India for five Test matches. The Test side, though, will look completely different to the T20 and ODI sides that played against Pakistan. The Test series will begin on August 4, 2021, in Nottingham.
Original Source: https://apnews.com/article/sports-europe-sports-asia-england-68b4d9faa9c30ad1df0d099d9d89cfb2
