England beat Pakistan by 45 runs at Headingley Leeds on Sunday evening to level the three-match T20I series 1-1, turning the third and final match to be played at Old Trafford, Manchester on Tuesday into a series decider.
Set a 201-run target, Pakistan were restricted to 155 for nine in their 20 overs. Openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan added 50 runs in 5.4 overs, Babar was dismissed by Saqib Mahmood for 22.
After Babar’s dismissal, Pakistan’s chase fell away as the tourists lost wickets at regular intervals. Sohaib Maqsood (15), Mohammad Hafeez (10), Fakhar Zaman (8) and Azam Khan (1) fell to England’s spin bowling trio of Adil Rashid, Mark Parkinson and Moeen Ali.
Rizwan top-scored for the side with 37 off 29 balls. Shadab Khan remained undefeated on 36 off 22 balls (two fours, three sixes). Imad Wasim contributed 20 runs, for England, Saqib took three wickets for 33 while Adil and Moeen took two wickets each conceding 30 and 32 runs respectively.
Earlier, England amassed 200 all out in 19.5 overs. The hosts who brought in wicketkeeper batsman Jos Buttler as captain in place of Eoin Morgan top-scored for his side with a blazing 59 off 39 balls (seven fours, two sixes).
Buttler added 67 runs for the third-wicket with Moeen after left-arm-spinner Imad had dismissed Jason Roy (10) and Dawid Malan (1) inside the first 15 balls of the match.
Moeen contributed 36 off 16 balls (six fours, one six). Liam Livingstone who smashed England’s fastest T20I century in the first match of the series in Nottingham on Friday night contributed 38 off 23 balls with the help of three towering sixes and two fours.
Pakistan bowlers made regular inroads in the death overs as England lost their last six wickets for the addition of 47 runs to slide from 153 for four to 200 all out. Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain with three for 51 was the pick of the bowlers.
Imad and Haris Rauf took two wickets each conceding 37 and 48 runs respectively.
The final match of the series will be played at Old Trafford, Manchester on Tuesday 20 July.
Scores in brief:
England beat Pakistan by 45 runs
England 200 all out, 19.5 overs (Jos Buttler 59, Liam Livingstone 38, Moeen Ali 36; Mohammad Hasnain 3-51, Imad Wasim 2-37)
Pakistan 155-9, 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 37, Shadab Khan 36 not out; Saqib Mahmood 3-33, Adil Rashid 2-30, Moeen Ali 2-32)
Player of the match: Moeen Ali
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