England secured a 2-0 series victory against Pakistan and showcased their readiness for the upcoming T20 World Cup with a commanding seven-wicket win in the fourth T20I at The Oval in London.
Chasing a modest target of 159, England’s openers, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, gave their side a blazing start. Buttler, scoring 39 off 21 balls, and Salt, with 45 off 24 balls, powered England to 78 runs within the PowerPlay, setting the foundation for an 82-run opening partnership. Haris Rauf’s fiery spell briefly interrupted England’s momentum as he claimed the wickets of Salt, Buttler, and Will Jacks in quick succession, finishing with figures of 3 for 38.
However, Rauf’s efforts were not enough to derail England’s chase. Jonny Bairstow (28* off 16) and Harry Brook (29* off 18) ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding England to victory with 27 balls to spare. Bairstow’s innings included a boundary and three sixes, sealing the win in style.
Earlier, Pakistan’s batting woes continued. Opting to bat first, Babar Azam (36) and Mohammad Rizwan (31) gave Pakistan a solid start with a 59-run opening stand. But once Babar fell on the last ball of the PowerPlay, Pakistan’s innings unraveled quickly. Adil Rashid’s brilliant spell, coupled with a brief rain break, led to a collapse where Pakistan slid from 59/0 to 86/5.
Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, and Azam Khan fell cheaply, with Shadab and Azam departing for ducks. It was left to Usman Khan (38) and Iftikhar Ahmed (21) to add some respectability to the total with a 40-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Ultimately, Pakistan could only muster 157 all out in 19.5 overs.
England’s bowlers were on point, with Adil Rashid (2/27) earning the Player of the Match honors for his pivotal role in the collapse. Liam Livingstone also impressed with 2 for 17, while Mark Wood marked his return to white-ball cricket with 2 for 35. Jofra Archer’s return was another positive for England, providing them with a potent pace option ahead of the World Cup.
Brief Scores:
- Pakistan: 157 all out in 19.5 overs (Usman Khan 38, Babar Azam 36; Liam Livingstone 2-17, Adil Rashid 2-27, Mark Wood 2-35)
- England: 158/3 in 15.3 overs (Phil Salt 45, Jos Buttler 39; Haris Rauf 3-38)
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