Now this series had everything. A sensational comeback, a hundred for Pakistan captain, an amazing performance by a young Englishman, and to top it all, a thrilling finish that fell Pakistan’s way to give a joyous sell-out crowd the result they were eager for.
Liam Dawson’s Stunning Batting
It’s a shame those who have few hopes for the outcome of their team left after Liam Dawson had spanked 24 off 18th over the bowler, Mohammad Hasnain, to put England within 9 runs away from victory and three wickets in hand.
Dawson, an unlikely hero, scored more in one over off Hussnain than he had managed in ten T20s for England across six years, hitting one six and four fours. “It took everyone by surprise,” said coach Matthew Mott.
Liam Dawson is having his moment, batting like Jos Buttler to put England on the cusp of an unlikely victory after they had slouched to 113 for six – all specialist batsmen went – chasing 167 to win.
Dawson took a swipe at the first ball and smacked for a four, but he tried to repeat the shot and threw an easy-to-catch defensive shot up to midwicket. He was out for 34 off 17 to expose the tailenders to Rauf’s speed.
Pakistan Thrilling Last Over Win
Rauf bowled Olly Stone, spearing a 97 mph yorker at Reece Topley. Topley flubbed it but scampered a leg bye. He was on strike at the start of the final over, which was bowled by Mohammad Wasim. England tried to pinch a single first ball, Rashid just getting back into his ground at the non-striker’s end.
Topley connected with the next one to fall on the legside, but Shan Masood ran in from mid-on. Topley put out his hand and the ball hit the stumps on fire; Pakistan won by three runs with four balls to go to level the series.
Dawson felt frustrated and upset from his rollercoaster for ten minutes and was consoled by his teammates.
“Awesome, swinging game of cricket,” said Moeen Ali, one of the England team captains. “Dawson scored a brilliant game, he was outstanding. I’m pleased for him but I’m sad that he couldn’t get us over the line.” The results were just too closely matched; England needed nine runs from only two overs with three wickets remaining. But it can happen; pressure happens.
The outside of Pakistan’s batting stumbles against the English because their batters aren’t able to build on the starts provided by their bowler. It seems that each time Pakistan tries to hit a six over the fence, it falls short and doesn’t reach it.
Babar And Rizwan Record
Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan passed 2,000 runs together in T20 cricket. The pair have looked in superb touch again, firing up 52 runs in the first six overs of the game.
It was a false start, however, the boundaries dried up, and timing became harder under the lights. Babar was caught at deep midwicket off Dawson in the 12th over with 97 on the board – a good launch pad to build on if one were to think so.
Pakistan Batting
This was an opportunity for Pakistan to show some fluidity and send in one of the middle-order buffers to build on a solid start but instead, Masood came out at no 3.
Masood has a long time for him to adjust and does not have the experience and ability to punish a team. Hales dropped him on three, but England was in luck because Masood chugged up balls when Rizwan found himself without a partner taking initiative.
Rashid bowled well, conceding just one boundary in four tidy overs, with Masood and Rizwan laboring to score 52 off 40balls with the bat.
Pakistan scored only four fours, and that six, between overs 8 and 18, until Masood was accounted out leg before to end the pain. Asif Ali slammed two sixes in the final over to prove a point – he should have come in earlier, not Masood.
England Batting
England was in control but they seemed to have a weak power play and lost 3 for 29 in innings over six overs of play.
Harry Brook had a good performance for England once more, as he scored 43 runs with Ben Duckett and then Moeen Ali hit Mohammad Nawaz a six over long-on. England was at the halfway point of their 167 with 82 runs on the board but was four down.
In a thrilling last few overs, Moeen was bowled trying to heave Nawaz to leg, but Brook was caught at the fine leg with 54 still needed off 5.4 overs.
David Willey scored 11 before getting out, but England’s Liam Dawson did not give up. As the 18th over started, England needed 33 runs and Dawson lofted the first ball for six over long off. The next was cut to long on and one bounce over midwicket for a four.
The next ball was slow, as a long-hop four was drilled. A full toss whipped off his toes through midwicket to the boundary. Hasnain conceded only one off the final two balls but Dawson had a strike and the fans left the stadium, stunned into silence.
Then came Rauf, a series tiebreaker. The rest of the game was played in Lahore where the series resumes on Wednesday. It was an unforgettable week in Karachi which is an ancient city in Pakistan.
