ENG WON
T20
ENG beat PAK by 5 wickets
Man of the Match - Eoin Morgan
PAK
195-4
20.0/20 Ovrs
 
199-5
19.1/20 Ovrs
ENG
Pakistan in England, 3 T20I Series, 2020 |2nd T20I |8/30/2020
Old Trafford, Manchester
Commentary
  • So, that's about it from this game folks. England have taken a strong, unbeatable 1-0 lead in the series. Their batting was exceptional while the bowling needs to improve as they conceded a lot in today's game. Pakistan looked very pale with the ball today, not able to complement the batting unit well and thus stare bleakly at the way the Three Lions managed to thump them. The last T20I of this series will also be played at Manchester. It is happening on Tuesday, 1st September 2020, at 2230 Local. Do join us then to see if the visitors can square the series. Until then, take care!
  • The English skipper and the Man of the Match, Eoin Morgan, starts by saying that this is his best form in the previous couple of years, maintaining that even the stats say so. Continues by saying that the bowlers of both the teams had a tough time and that the batters of both the outfits performed well. Adds that maybe rustiness is a factor that comes into play. Continues saying that it is tough bowling in the Powerplay and this could be improved in the next game. Lays praise on Malan and says that he has played with him from a long time and that he has contributed well here. Ends by saying that the team for the T20I World Cup is far from done as there is still a lot of time and lot of experiments possible.
  • First up is the Pakistani Skipper, Babar Azam. He starts off by saying that the start was a good one by them and that the batters stuck to their plans. Lavishes praise on Morgan and Malan for the way they batted. Adds that he has learnt a lot in this series so far about how to talk to his bowlers as a captain in crunch situations and that he will take all these learnings into the next game and beyond as well. Ends by saying that Mohammad Amir is an important bowler and his loss definitely made things difficult for the visitors in this game.
  • Stay tuned as the presentation ceremony is on us shortly!
  • Earlier, England won the toss and opted to field first. Pakistan batted really well on this flat surface, with Azam and Hafeez seeing them to a close to a 200-run total. England's bowling performance was very sub par but the batters made up to more than it by winning the game for their side comprehensively.
  • Pakistan looked lethargic with the ball today, even though their batters did really well. They could not challenge England much, except when Shadab picked up 2 back-to-back wickets. But that seemed more as an outlier as there was no consistency from the bowlers otherwise. Even before Shadab had struck, a considerable damage was effected by the English openers. And after they departed, Pakistan looked very lacklustre. Amir went off the field after bowling just 2 overs, owing to a hamstring injury. Overall, the visitors never challenged the hosts a great deal.
  • And England win, and how. It looked difficult but not impossible and England thought the same as they went about their chase. A good chase requires a good start and the openers gave them just that, muscling the balls to the boundary till the powerplay. Although both the openers fell in quick succession, Malan and Morgan teamed up and largely built the innings to victory. Morgan was bludgeoning the ball to all areas of the park and Malan was ably supporting him at the other end. After the skipper departed, Malan took charge and saw to it that the hosts win and take an unassailable lead in the series, with one game to go.
  • 19.1
    4
    Shaheen Afridi to Dawid Malan, FOUR! That will do nicely. England take it to the last over but finish it on the first delivery itself. Low full toss outside off, Malan creams this through point for a four. He moves on to 54 off 36 balls. England win by 5 wickets.
  • END OF OVER 19 | 11 Runs & 1 Wkt | ENG 195/5
  • 18.6
    W
    Haris Rauf to Sam Billings, OUT! CAUGHT! One run required and England loses another wicket! Can you believe this? Short ball outside off, Sam cuts this one fine towards backward point but this one goes straight into the hands of the fielder who doesn't drop this! England will have to get into the final over of this match to finish this, itseems! 
  • 18.5
    4
    Haris Rauf to Sam Billings, FOUR! 1 RUN NOW REQUIRED! On a full length around off, Sam smashes this down the pitch straight through the fielder at mid on and into the fence! The game is surely done now! 
  • 18.4
    4
    Haris Rauf to Sam Billings, FOUR! 5 required now! A short length ball around off, Sam scoops this behind the left of the wicket-keeper and it races away to the boundary near long stop! 
  • 18.3
    1
    Haris Rauf to Dawid Malan, FIFTY FOR MALAN! Yorker around middle, worked towards deep point for a single. Malan had supported his skipper really well and later came of his own as well. Can he pull the match through for the hosts now?
  • 18.2
    1
    Haris Rauf to Sam Billings, Full delivery around middle and leg, Billings works this towards mid-wicket for a single. 10 off 10 now! 
  • 18.1
    1
    Haris Rauf to Dawid Malan, On a full length outside off, Dawid cuts it towards point and the batters will get a single. A run a ball required still for the Three Lions! 
  • END OF OVER 18 | 6 Runs & 1 Wkt | ENG 184/4
  • 17.6
    1
    Shadab Khan to Dawid Malan, Flat and outside off, Dawid punches this to cover and takes a run.
  • 17.5
    1
    Shadab Khan to Sam Billings, Billings is off the mark. Pushes this fuller one to long off and crosses over for a single.
  • Sam Billings walks out now to replace Moeen Ali. 
  • 17.4
    W
    Shadab Khan to Moeen Ali, OUT! CAUGHT! Shadab has his third. A rather lazy shot from Moeen Ali, especially in these circumstances. Are Pakistan still in the hunt? Looks so. Coming to the delivery, it was flatter on the stumps, Moeen does not middle that well as he looked to pull that rather lazily. It went straight to the skipper, Babar Azam, at mid-wicket. He takes a simple catch and another wicket falls quickly after Morgan departed earlier.
  • 17.3
    1
    Shadab Khan to Dawid Malan, Slower in the air on middle, Dawid gently reverse sweeps this to the off side. Just a single though.
  • 17.2
    2
    Shadab Khan to Dawid Malan, On middle, Dawid punches on his backfoot to mid-wicket and gets a couple.
  • 17.1
    1
    Shadab Khan to Moeen Ali, In the air but drops short! Shadab flights this outside off, Moeen goes uppishly wide of long on. The fielder there comes towards the ball but it still falls short. Just a single.
  • END OF OVER 17 | 5 Runs & 1 Wkt | ENG 178/3
  • 16.6
    0
    Haris Rauf to Dawid Malan, BEATEN! On a good length outside off, Malan looks to play at that but misses it and Rizwan pouches that one. Good over for Pakistan, 5 runs and a wicket off it!