Superstar star: Aamer Jamal celebrates after taking Sam Curran’s share
Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) – Mohammed Rizwan’s prolific opening match saw a half-century of fighting before first player Aamir Jamal sparkled with the ball as Pakistan beat England by six games in the final finish in their fifth international T20 in Lahore on Wednesday. The 46-ball 63 Rizwan Rizwan was the cornerstone of the 145 Pakistanis’ 19-ball total after fast-paced Mark Wood snatched 3-20 to derail the home team who was asked to strike first at Gaddafi Stadium. England captain Moein Ali smashed a brilliant 37-ball undefeated 51, with a forty-six, but failed to score the required 15 of the final as England managed 139-7. Jamal maintained his composure despite hitting six from the third ball, conceding just eight to give Pakistan a 3-2 lead in the seven-game series. England won the first and third matches while Pakistan got the second and fourth, all played in Karachi. Pakistan needed a wicket to defend an overall below par, and all six bowlers responded with at least one small each, with Rauf grabbing guard 2-41. Alex Hales (one) and Phil Salt (three) opened with fourth place before Ben Duckett (10) and Harry Brook (four) were sent off sending England stumbling 54-4. David Malan halted the slide with a 35-ball patient 36, studded with six limits, before Ali raised his team’s hopes of a win. But the rate of demand increased, with 40 of the last three being overpaid and 28 needing more than the last two. Moein reached T20I seventh out of 35 balls. “I will give credit to the bowlers who defended a group that is not too big,” said Pakistan captain Babar Azam. “I think Jamal showed a great personality by bowling at the end and his confidence made him cross the line.” Meanwhile, Ali said England should have been chasing the target. “We were disappointed we didn’t chase those kicks, we’re a better team than that, but we were stifled by the spinners in the middle,” said Ali, whose team failed three times in pursuit of 166 on Sunday. Earlier, Pakistan struggled against Wood’s pace. Wood – who has played for the second time internationally since an elbow injury in March followed by surgery – was brilliantly assisted by Sam Curran (2-23) and David Wylie (2-23) as Pakistan were sent off in 19 games. Amid the collapse of the middle standings from 42-1, which has seen Pakistan lose six wickets from 48 balls for just 58 times, Rizwan withstood a challenging strike, his fourth fiftieth in five games in the series. Wood fired Azam in third for nine before David Willey eliminated Shaan Masoud and Afkhar Ahmed for fouling Pakistan. Muhammad Nawaz (none) and Shadab Khan (seven) fell into an unwise run to leave Pakistan reeling at 100-7. Radwan completed his 20th half century of T20I before hitting Goran straight into Adel Rashid’s hand at the deep square leg in the 18th segment. Radwan hit forty-three. The remaining matches will be held on Friday and Sunday in Lahore as well.
