One Minute Down Next Minute Up | Haris Rauf You Beauty:
Pakistan Cricket Team Played their 200th T20I at National Stadium Karachi and they won it in emphatic and typical Pakistan fashion with twists and turns. With this win, the 7 match T20I series was once again leveled, 2-2. Now the series moves to Lahore for the remainign 3 T20Is.
Pakistan batted first and on a tricky surface, Pakistan posted a competitive 166 on the board. Mohammad Rizwan top scored with 88(67) while Asif Ali provided a strong finish with his brilliant 13(3)*. Big questions were raised by the critics over Pakistan’s approach yet again. wiht 97-1 in 11.5 overs, Shan Masood was sent in to bat next while many beleived Pakistan could have sent someone more aggressive like Iftikhar Ahmed or even Asif Ali.
Shan Masood and Khushdil Shah collectively scored 23 runs off 22 balls that slowed down the progress of Pakistan. Even despite winning, Babar Azam said in the press conference that they were 10-15 runs short. The win was secured by Pakistani bowlers who bowled brilliantly.
England’s top order was dismissed cheaply when Mohammad Hasnain dismissed Aalex Hales and Will Jacks in his opening spell while Salt was removed by Mohammad Nawaz. The recovery happened when in-form Ben Duckett and Harry Brook scored 33 and 34 respectively but Mohammad Nawaz brought Pakistan back in the game when he dismissed Duckett first and then Moeen Ali. Brook was then sent back by Mohammad Wasim Jnr.
The game once again changed favorites when Liam Dawson smashed 24 runs against Mohammad Hasnain in the 18th over. However in the next over, Haris Rauf took 2 wickets in 2 balls and restricted England to 163/9. With 1 wicket in hand, England needed 4 runs to win but on the 2nd ball of the final over, Reece Topley was run out by Shan Masood and Pakistan became the first team to defend less than 5 runs successfully in the final over of a T20I match.
Haris Rauf was awarded Man of the Match for his 3/32. This was Pakistan’s 122nd T20I win, the most by any team in this format. Pakistan won in their typical fashion with plenty of twists and turns for the fans. Pakistan also became the very first team to play 200 T20I Matches.
