England level the T20 series 3-3

Sixth Twenty20 International, Lahore

Pakistan 169-6 off 20 ov, Babar 87 not out off 59, 7 fours, 3 sixes, Iftikhar 31 off 21, 2 fours, 2 sixes,  Curran 2-26, Wiley 2-32, Topley 1-31, Gleeson 1-39.

England 170-2 off 14.3 ov, Salt 88not out off 41, 13 fours, 3 sixes,  Hales 27 off 12, 4 fours, 1 six, Malan 26 off 18, 5 fours,  Duckett 26 off 16, 4 fours, Shadab 2-34.

England won the toss and elected to field

England won by eight wickets.

Phil Salt smashed an unbeaten 88 from 41 balls as England stormed to an eight-wicket win over Pakistan and levelled the series 3-3, in the sixth Twenty20 International.

Chasing 170 for victory in Lahore, Salt bludgeoned his way to a 19-ball half-century, 13 fours and three sixes – the third fastest by an Englishman in T20 international with 13 balls to spare.

Earlier Pakistan captain Babar Azam, his 81st innings, had made an unbeaten 87 from 59 balls his 27th T20 fifty from 41 balls, to go past 3, 000 runs and equalled Virat Kohli’s record. Babar moved through the gears  and upped the ante. But Pakistan’s efforts were blown away as England’s top order  almost put the game beyond doubt before the end of the powerplay. The Blistering opening stand between Salt and Alex Hales steered England to victory. Hales nailed Mohammad Wasim for three consecutive fours to end a third over costing 22 runs, before falling to Shadab Khan in the fourth.  Salt, however, moved smartly around the crease to punish the Pakistan bowlers through the covers and down the ground as well. By the end of the seventh over, the hundred was up for England with Salt pulling Aamer Jamal over fine-leg for six to bring up the milestone.