Pakistan v England, 2nd T20I, Dubai – 5 Talking Points

Pakistan and England started the second encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium knowing the importance of the match. Having won the 1st match, England was looking to seal the 3 match series while Pakistan was desperately in need of a win to level the series. The overall performance of the team needed a big lift as it had been thoroughly outplayed in the ODIs as well. Eoin Morgan decided to give himself a break as Joe Root returned with Jos Butler who was to captain the side. For Pakistan, their two important players, Ahmed Shehzad and Shoaib Malik returned to strengthen the team. England won the toss and deciding to bat put-on 172/8 and in reply Pakistan lost a rip-roaring contest by just 3 runs.

1. All-round contribution by England’s batsmen:

Jason Roy gave his team a solid start by contributing 29 off 22 which included 1 four and 2 sixes. James Vince again proved his class with a polished 38 off 24 including 3 fours and 2 sixes. Root scored 20 while Butler played a cameo scoring 33 off 22 with 3 huge sixes. Chris Woakes also swung his bat to good effect scoring 15* off 7 courtesy 2 fours. In the shortest format of the game, it is important that most batsmen contribute if there hasn’t been a big knock from 1-2 batsmen. The English batsmen did just that and an overall contribution ensured a challenging total of 172/8.

2. The Pakistani bowlers bowl waywardly:

Sohail Tanvir went for 43 while Wahab Riaz conceded 44 off his 4 overs. Both picked up a wicket each however bowled inconsistent line and length. They were either too full or too short and never got their radar right. Shoaib Malik went for 32 off his 3 overs and although he picked up one wicket, he wasn’t consistent with his line either. After England was reduced to 74/3 from 10.3 overs, the bowlers needed to stick to the basics and pile up the pressure which they failed to do. They bowled too many loose balls which were deservedly dispatched by the batsmen.

3. Afridi bowls a brilliant spell:

Skipper Shahid Afridi produced a brilliant spell of 3/15 from 4 overs and kept the batsmen in check. He led from the front and brought himself to bowl in the powerplay taking up the challenge against Hales and Roy who had started well by scoring 32 in four overs. He struck with the first ball and removed got Hales out LBW. He got the wicket of Roy who was well set on 29. His 3rd wicket was that of Vince, England’s top scorer was batting brilliantly on 38 however Afridi bowled one cleverly wide outside off-stump and the batsman failed to get the elevation needed for the sweep. The top edge went into the safe hands of the deep square-leg fielder.

4. England’s spinners do the trick:

England’s fast bowler were expensive however the two spinners bowled very well and kept a check on the scoring rate to a great effect. Pakistan was off to a flying start with Shehzad looking in a punishing mood. He was batting on 28 off 18 and the score was 51 off just 4.5 overs. Stephen Parry got his wicket with a lovely piece of bowling. He flighted one which beat the bat of the advancing Shezad and Buttler had a comfortable stumping. Parry’s spell of 33/1 was bettered by Adil Rashid who bowled a superb economical spell of 2/18. Rafatullah Mohmand was out stumped while Sohaib Maqsood was cleaned up by with an absolute gem of a delivery.; a well-flighted googly that rattled the stumps.

5. Chris Woakes holds his nerve under immense pressure:

Pakistan needed 53 off 20 when the captain Afridi walked into bat. It was a tough ask and England looked set to seal the series, however, the Pakistani skipper is not the one to go down without a fight. He smashed the first ball for one-bounce four and started the Pakistani revival. He smashed Woakes for 2 sixes in the 18th over but was dismissed by the bowler on the last ball of the over. A full ball outside off, saw another mighty swing from Afridi  which got the thick outside edge that went to short third-man and Plunkett held onto a superb catch. Pakistan needed 11 off 6 and Woakes bowled another full ball as Sarfraz trying his favourite sweep got right across the crease and the edge uprooted the stumps. The Englishman bowled brilliant fuller lengths and denied batsmen any room to get the connection. Pakistan needed 4 off the final delivery and Anwar Ali had a mighty heave but couldn’t make contact to a quick length delivery.

3rd T20I: England v Pakistan at Sharjah on Nov 30, 2015
20:00 local | 16:00 GMT
England won the T20I series with the 2nd match and lead the series 2-0 into the 3rd match. Watch the Live Streaming of the T20I series at Cricketgateway.com