After the debacle in the ODI series, Pakistan responded in style to beat a full-strength England side in the first T20I at Trent Bridge with a 31-run win. The visitors can win the series with a win in the second match at Headingley today (Sunday). (More Cricket News)
England, who so emphatically blanked Pakistan 3-0 in the ODIs with a second-string side, were effectively outbatted by Babar Azam & Co in Nottingham on Friday. Eoin Morgan, returning from COVID-19 isolation with the rest of the first team members, won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat first. And they ended up conceding 232 runs.
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The visiting captain was at his imperious best, scoring 85 off 49, while Mohammad Rizwan scored 63 off 41 even as Fakhar Zaman (26 off 8) and Mohammad Hafeez (24 off 10) made merry later in the innings.
David Willey was the only bowler whose economy was less than 10 an over.
England's chase got off to a poor start, losing three inside fifty runs. Then Liam Livingstone scored a sensational 43-ball century (103) to keep the hosts in the fight, but they were dismissed for 201 in 19.2 overs. Jason Roy was the second-highest scorer with 32.
In a batting show, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi won the man of the match award for his 3/30 in 3.2 overs.
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The second match may not produce 430+ plus runs, but Leeds can be a batting paradise.
Head-to-head: This will be their 20th meeting. England lead the head-to-head record 12-6, with one no result. Pakistan have won the last two meetings, both in England.
Match and telecast details
Match: England vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I cricket match
Date: July 18 (Sunday), 2021
Time: 7:00 PM IST/ 02:30 PM Local
Venue: Headingley, Leeds
TV Channel: Sony Sports Network
Live Streaming: SonyLIV
Playing XIs in the last match
England: Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan (c), Lewis Gregory, Tom Curran, David Willey, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson.
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.
Squads
England: Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan (c), Lewis Gregory, David Willey, Tom Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Adil Rashid, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Jake Ball, Tom Banton.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Sohaib Maqsood, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Qadir, Sharjeel Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Wasim Jr.
