England, Pakistan
Epin Morgan and Dawid Malan [Photo-Twitter]

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.

England, Pakistan
Eoin Morgan [Photo-Twitter]
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.

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.

England, Pakistan
Dawid Malan [Photo-Twitter]
Morgan was finally dismissed in 17th over when he mistimes an attempted swipe at deep square-leg off Haris Rauf. But the damage was well and truly done by that point. Dawid Malan continued with his brilliant consistency as he added another half-century and it was fitting that he finished off the game with a boundary in the final 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.

https://twitter.com/iSaadAwais22_/status/1300085978128953344?s=19

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-

Yash Mittal

Just a student of this beautiful game called cricket. Writer. Storyteller.