Unbeaten Babar Azam’s 110, and Mohammad Rizwan’s 88 propel Pakistan to a historic 10-wicket win
Babar and Rizwan steer Pakistan to record win
Second Twenty20 International, Karachi
England 199-5 off 20 ov, Moseen 55 not out of 23, Duckett 43 off 22, Rauf 2-30.
Pakistan 203-0 (19.3 ov) Babar 110 not out off 66, Rizwan 88 not out off 51.
Pakistan won by 10 wickets and leveled the series 1-1.
Babar Azam hit 110 not out in 62 balls and Mohammad Rizwan an unbeaten 88 in 51- balls, including four sixes, steered Pakistan to a remarkable 10-wicket victory over England to level the Twenty20 Series at 1-1.
Chasing 200, Pakistan’s opening pair displayed a batting masterclass in Karachi to seal the historic win with three balls to spare.
The previous highest target reached without losing a wicket was 169 by New Zealand against Pakistan in 2016.
Pakistan openers now have a record seven century stands at the top of the order, as they were 87-0 after 10 overs before launching an assault, taking 21 from the 13th over bowled by England skipper Moeen Ali including three leg-side sixes.
England who had never previously lost a T20 by 10 wickets, after Alex Hale’s drop of Rizwan on 23, missing running back from mid-off the bowling of left-arm spinner Liam Dawson, Phil Salt’s missed stumping chance off Adil Rashid which could have seen Rizwan go for 32 and Babar was put down on 91, by Sam Curran, who leapt one-handed on the mid-wicket rope.
Pakistan only needed three from the final over and, after taking two singles, Babar drove Wiley for the winning runs from the third ball.
Earlier England looked heavy favourites at halfway stage when Moeen Ali smashed 55 not out from 23 balls and Ben Duckett 43, to score 199-5.
The next match of the seven-match series takes place on Friday again in Karachi.
