Pakistan ends tour on a high with T20I win

Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif smashed England's bowlers all around the park as Pakistan ended its long all-format tour of the United Kingdom in style with a nine-wicket win at a packed Old Trafford in the lone Twenty20 International on Wednesday (September 7).

Sharjeel made 59 while Latif ended on 59 not out as Pakistan, set 136 to win, finished on 139 for 1 with 31 balls to spare.

Sharjeel faced 36 balls, and hit seven fours and three sixes as he put on 107 in just 69 deliveries for the first wicket with Latif, whose 42-ball knock featured seven fours and three sixes.

The result gave Sarfraz Ahmed a victory in his first match as Pakistan’s new T20I captain, but England took the overall series 16-12 after the four Tests were shared 2-2 and the home side won the One-Day Internationals 4-1.

The win for Pakistan was set up by its bowlers, who restricted England to 135 for 7 after it was well placed at 56 without loss.

Imad Wasim, the left-arm spinner, removed both Jason Roy and Alex Hales, the England openers, on his way to returns of 2 for 17 in his four overs – he didn’t concede a single four or six.

Wahab Riaz, adjudged the Man of the Match, followed up with 3 for 18 as Pakistan cleverly mixed things up.

England managed just one boundary in the last ten overs of its innings, whereas Pakistan rushed to 36 for none courtesy of nine fours. Hales (37) and Roy (21) were the only Engand batsmen to pass 20.

Sharjeel struck David Willey for two fours in the first over of the reply and he also hoisted Adil Rashid for two sixes in an over to go to his half-century before holing out off the same bowler.

But, by then, Pakistan was 107 for 1. Latif completed a maiden T20I half-century when he hit Moeen Ali for six over mid-wicket, and Babar Azam (15 not out) ended the match with a four off Liam Plunkett.

Pakistan had an early scare when Wasim, who conceded just two runs in the first over of the game, was struck a painful blow as a powerful Hales shot reared up off a practice pitch and hit him on the head. However, he returned to stop England's innings in its tracks.

Roy was lbw when trying to reverse-sweep Wasim, and England then lost two wickets in two balls to be 67 for 3. Hales was clean bowled on the sweep by Wasim off the last ball of the ninth over, and Joe Root (six) tamely upper-cut Hasan Ali to Shoaib Malik at short third man off the next delivery.

Jos Buttler got off the mark by cover-driving Moeen for four before he holed out after slicing Riaz through the off side.

England's innings never recovered as Sarfraz pouched Eoin Morgan (14) off Riaz to leave the scoreboard reading 110 for 6.

Please click here to review the match in full in the ICC Match Centre.