Pakistan pulled off a thrilling three-run win to level the seven-match T20 series 2-2 as England self-destructed in the last two overs on Sunday with the loss of a key batter followed by a golden duck and a run out. Chasing Pakistan’s 166-4, England still needed 33 off 18 balls in the fourth Twenty20 international but greatly improved its chances when Liam Dawson (34 off 17) smacked fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain for 24 runs in the 18th over — including four boundaries and a six.
Dawson then pulled pacer Haris Rauf for another boundary early in the penultimate over. At 162-7, and needing only five runs off 10 balls, England looked almost certain to win. But Rauf (3/32) refused to give up and grabbed the vital wicket of Dawson, who was caught at midwicket, before rattling the stumps of T20 debutant Olly Stone for a golden duck.
With four required off the final over, Reece Topley was run out at the non-striker’s end as England was dismissed for 163 with four balls to spare. “I had a plan where to bowl at Dawson and, after getting his wicket, I knew we can run through the two tailenders,” Rauf said. “It was a pressure game and thankfully we finished on the right side of the result.”
“To be honest, I didn’t. My focus was on the game,” he would say with a lovely smile. “Maine nahi dekha kaun gaya and Kaun nahi gaya!”
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