England beat Pakistan by 8 wickets

England defeated Pakistan by 8 wickets in the sixth match of the Twenty20 International series at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Friday.

Phil Salt smashed a robust career-best 41-ball 88 not out to help England thrash Pakistan. The England opener clobbered three sixes and 13 fours in the third fastest half century by an England batter in the shorter format to help his team chase down a target of 170 in just 14.3 overs.

Salt's fiery knock overshadowed Babar Azam's 59-ball 87 not out that lifted the home team to 169-6 and saw Pakistan skipper equalling India star Virat Kohli's record of the fastest man to 3,000 runs in cricket's shortest format.

England's victory tied the seven-match series 3-3 with an intriguing final match in Lahore on Sunday.

England, who failed to chase 146 on Wednesday, were given a rousing start by Salt and Alex Hales who compiled 50 in just three overs.

Hales, who smashed four fours and a six in his 12-ball 27, holed out after a breezy 55-run start off just 24 balls before Dawid Malan helped add 73 for the second wicket with an 18-ball 26.

Ben Duckett remained not out on 26. Salt completed his second T20I fifty off just 19 balls, improving on his previous best of 57 against the West Indies at Bridgetown earlier this year.

It was a complete onslaught by England batters who dominated Pakistan bowling with only spinner Shadab Khan taking 2-34.

Earlier, Azam anchored Pakistan's innings with prolific partner Mohammad Rizwan and pacer Haris Rauf rested for the match.

The Pakistan skipper, who hit his 27th half century, reached 3,000 T20I runs in 81 innings as he anchored the home team's total after they were sent in to bat.

Azam hit Richard Gleeson for a six to join Indian duo of Rohit Sharma (3,694 runs in 140 matches) and Kohli (3,663 in 108), New Zealand's Martin Guptill (3,497 in 112) and Ireland's Paul Stirling (3,011 in 114) in passing the milestone.

Azam hit three sixes and seven fours and added 48 for the fourth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed (31) and 47 for the third with Haider Ali (18).

Sam Curran (2-26) and David Willey (2-32) were the successful England bowlers.

England are on their first tour of Pakistan for 17 years.

Speedy chase: England makes 129/2 in 10 overs

In a speedy chase of the Pakistani target of 170 in T20I at Lahore Qaddafi Stadium, England made 129 runs in 10 overs and only two players were out. 

Opening batsman Phil Salt made his half-century in 19 balls with two sixes and nine boundaries with a striking rate of 285.

England makes 70/1 in 5 overs chasing 170 target

England is back for the chase as it has scored 50 runs in the first five overs without losing a wicket. Though Pakistan has posted a good total but without a bowler Haris Rauf its bowling end is considered weak.

Anyhow, England takes a start fast and started hitting boundaries without any haste against Pakistani bowlers. English openers Philip Salt and Alex Hales gave a good start to the team and they got 22 runs in the first over of Shahnawaz Dahani. 

The English openers completed 50 runs in just first three overs by hitting sixes and fours to all three bowlers including Wasim, Dahani and Nawaz.

England’s first wicket fell on a total score of 55. In the fourth over of Shadab Khan, opening batsman Alex Hales backed to the pavilion. He was caught by Dahani on 27 in 12 balls. He hit a six and four boundaries.

For a second wicket’s partnership, Dawid Malan makes his way out at number 3.

Pakistan set a target of 170 for England

Pakistan set a target of 170 runs for England in the sixth T20 International match at Qaddafi Stadium on Friday. Pakistan scored a total of169 runs for the loss of six wickets.
David Valley and Sam Curran got two wickets each.

England hunted Asif Ali’s wicket at the total score of 136 when he was caught by Reece Topley on the ball of David Willey. He made 9 runs with a help of a boundary in 9 balls. 

Captain Babar Azam played a responsible innings and made 87 runs not out with two sixes and 7 boundaries in 59 balls. His striking rate was 141. Mohammad Nawaz made 12 runs in 7 balls and remained not out. He was caught by at boundary at the last ball of the innings.

Pakistan lost fourth wicket of Iftikhar in 15th over

Pakistan made 113 runs in 15 overs and its four batsmen were out. In the 15th over, England succeeded to get the fourth wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed who was caught by Harry Brook on the ball of Sam Curran. Iftikhar made 31 runs on 21 runs. He played well and hit two sixes and two fours.

Babar hits 27th T20I half-century in 41 runs

Baba Azam hit his 27th T20I half-century and 4th against England. He made magnificent 50 runs in 41 balls in the 14th over. He played an excellent innings to look to take his team to a good total score against the guest team.

Pakistan completed 100 runs with a sixer hit by Iftikhar Ahmed in the 14th over of the innings. Pakistan made only 72 runs in 10 overs and its three wickets were gone. 

Pakistan loses 2 wickets on 32 runs in first 5 overs

Pakistan hits only 32 runs and its two wickets were down in the first five overs against England in the sixth Twenty20 International match at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore on Friday.

Opening batsman Mohammad Haris was caught by Adil Rashid on Richard Gleeson’s ball on 7 at 8 balls. While next batsman Shan Masood did not get any runs and was out on zero after playing just two balls. He was LBW on David Willey’s ball.

Pakistan’s first wicket fell at a total score of 14 and the second wicket at 15.

England wins toss

England captain Moeen Ali won the toss and sent Pakistan in to bat.

Pakistan, who leads the seven-match series 3-2, handed a T20I debut to 21-year-old wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris as they rested Mohammad Rizwan.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf is also rested, making way for Shahnawaz Dahani.

England rested pace duo of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes to bring in Reece Topley and Richard Gleeson.

The last match is also in Lahore on Sunday.

Teams:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Haris, Asif Ali, Aamer Jamal, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haider Ali, Shan Masood, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shahnawaz Dahani

England: Moeen Ali (captain), Dawid Malan, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Reece Topley, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Richard Gleeson, David Willey