England vs Pakistan 2020, 2nd T20I – Twitter Reactions
Updated - 31 Aug 2020, 12:53 AM
England once again proved why they are such a powerhouse team in the white-ball formats as they strolled their way to a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the 2nd T20I of the three-match series at the Emirates Old Trafford.
Chasing 196 to win, England got to off a flier as Jonny Bairstow laid into the Pakistani bowling attack courtesy a whirlwind 23-ball 44.
With England motoring along at 0-65 after the powerplay and Mohammad Amir hobbling off the field due to a potential hamstring injury, Pakistan needed their premier strike-bowler in Shadab Khan to rise to the challenge. And, that is exactly what the leggie did as he dismissed the dangerous-looking Bairstow and a potentially dangerous Tom Banton in successive deliveries in his very first over.
Eoin Morgan survived a close LBW call against Shadab Khan in the initial few deliveries but that proved to be the only instance where the southpaw looked in trouble. Post that Morgan and Dawid Malan launched a stunning assault on the Pakistani bowling attack, plundering 122 in a mere 10.2 overs to suck the life out of the game.
Also Read- Mohammad Hafeez Becomes The Second Pakistan Batsman To Reach 2000 T20I Runs and Ninth Overall
Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan’s breathtaking assault guides England to a 5-wicket win over Pakistan
The breaking point came in the 12th over where Morgan and Malan smoked Iftikhar Ahmed for 18 runs. Post that, there was no looking back for the duo as they displayed breathtaking strokeplay.
14th IT20 fifty for the skipper ?
Live clips: https://t.co/jbQgZsoeXk#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/tHPZKw86xZ
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 30, 2020
Morgan racked up a 25-ball 50 with an audacious six off Shaheen Shah Afridi and he celebrated that by blasting three consecutive boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi in the same over.
Earlier, Pakistan batted first and on the back of another half-century from skipper Babar Azam and a whirlwind knock by Mohammad Hafeez, who became the 2nd Pakistani batsman to cross 2000 runs in T29I cricker, posted 4-195 in 20 overs.
The visitors got off to a brilliant start courtesy a 72-run opening stand between Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam. Azam completed 1500 T20I runs during his 44-ball 56, but the right-hander failed to convert his knock into a substantial knock as he holed out to Sam Billings.
Muhammad Hafeez last 9 T20Is:
39 off 30 vs ??
40 off 35 vs ??
32* off 20 vs ??
45 off 36 vs ??
34* off 21 vs ??
53* off 34 vs ??
17 off 16 vs ??
67* off 49 vs ??
69 off 36 vs ???????396 runs | 79.20 Avg | 142.96 SR | 35 fours | 15 sixes | 3 Fifties.
That that ?? #PAKvENG #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/OAjb2Q1b4x
— S A A D ?? (@iSaadSays22_) August 30, 2020
The dismissal of Azam and Shoaib Malik caused a bit of decline in Pakistan’s run-rate but Mohammad Hafeez’ audacious strokeplay ensures that they eventually posted 4-195 in 20 overs but as it turned out, even his exploits could not prevent the home side from overhauling the second-highest run-chase in a T20I in England.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the 2nd T20I proceedings between England and Pakistan-
Eoin Morgan doing a good job of reminding everyone why showing cricket on free to air TV is actually a pretty good idea…
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) August 30, 2020
Eoin Morgan has now been involved in 7th century-partnership in Twenty20 Internationals – joint most for any English batsman (with Alex Hales).#PAKvENG
— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) August 30, 2020
Eoin Morgan in T20Is since the start of the 2019 summer:
Runs: 460
Fifties: 5
HS: 91
Average: 66.28
Strike rate: 186.34The England captain is in incredible form ?#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/Je6CJmcpEw
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 30, 2020
Iftikhar's 8 off 9 balls cost Pakistan nine runs according to Match Impact. His bowling also cost them 15 runs. A total match contribution of -24 runs. Meanwhile, Khushdil & Haider sit on the sidelines. #ENGvPAK
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) August 30, 2020
England's (199/5 in 19.1 ov) successful run chase vs Pakistan at Manchester is the second-highest in any T20I match played in England.
The best still remains India's successful run chase (201/3 in 18.4 ov) against the home side (198/9) at Bristol on 8 Jul 2018.#EngvPak #EngvsPak— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 30, 2020
Morgan's on ? #ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/xvoztzJ8bh
— ICC (@ICC) August 30, 2020
Dawid Malan in T20Is:
12 innings
12 double-figure scores
7 fifty-plus scores
54.50 averageThe most consistent T20I player in the world?#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/dtJLe0ZiUV
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 30, 2020
As @IndianMourinho is pointing out – Pakistan have got their lengths to Morgan wrong. Their quicks have bowled nine full balls and just one short ball. They've fed his strengths. #ENGvPAK https://t.co/md3KVBzFgM
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) August 30, 2020
What a knock @Eoin16 – the way he’s playing looks like even 220 wouldn’t have been enough #ENGvPAK
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) August 30, 2020
In a game where the overall run-rate was 10.10, Babar Azam batted 44 balls for a run-rate of 7.64. He surely is a great batsman but if he improves his SR it can give Pakistan extra 10-20 runs in every match. Having said that bowlers should have defended 195. #EngvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 30, 2020
Pakistan might still win it but this total could have been 210 instead of 195 if Iftikhar Ahmed was sent at number four cos he is sort of player who takes 10-15 balls before changing gear to power-hitting. Malik looks out of place in this team. #EngvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 30, 2020
Pakistan have ignored three of the most exciting batting developments from the PSL. Haider Ali – not picked, Khushdil Shah – not picked, Shadab Khan – not promoted up the order after succeeding in the role for Islamabad. #ENGvPAK
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) August 30, 2020
Babar Azam reaches 1500 T20I runs in his 39th innings – the joint-fastest to the mark with Virat Kohli and Aaron Finch ?https://t.co/ooysdcsqel | #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/BzuHxMHDo0
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 30, 2020
This team got us all like.#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/SkUnAx9G8w
— Haroon (@ThisHaroon) August 30, 2020
Pakistan's record in T20Is when they score 175+ in first innings
Matches 25
Won 24
Lost 1 #EngvPak— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 30, 2020
Babar Azam in T20Is:
Games: 39
Runs: 1471
Fifties: 13
High score: 97*
Average: 50.28
Strike rate: 128.13Ridiculous numbers ?#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/iBnPW5PxQt
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 30, 2020
This is Babar Azam's sixth fifty in t20s in the UK.
Before today, he averaged 58.38 in the format here – his highest anywhere. His strike rate before this innings: over 150. #ENGvPAK
— Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi (@ahsannagi) August 30, 2020
Fastest to 1,500 T20I runs:
?? Babar Azam – 39 Innings.
?? Virat Kohli – 39 Innings.
?? Aaron Finch – 39 Innings.
? Chris Gayle – 44 Innings.Another day, another milestone, another record – Babar Azam doing his things ?#PAKvENG #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/25QK2AlnI8
— Team Babar Azam (@Team_BabarAzam) August 30, 2020
Babar Azam is definitely a good player but he still needs to improve his strike rate in t20s if he wanna be the best in circle. As an opener played 44 balls for his 56 on a flat trsck is not something extra ordinary.#ENGvsPAK
— Hamza Qazi (@hamzaqazii) August 30, 2020
Most of the time Babar Azam brings a selfish inning with strike rate of below 130. I think he should work on how to accelerates innings when one is sets from players like Kohli & Rohit. But well played @babarazam258!#ENGvPAK #Cricket #CricketConnected
Photo Courtesy-@ICC pic.twitter.com/YtobqPQt6W— Zaid (@ZaidAnsariey) August 30, 2020