England beat Pakistan by seven wickets
England lost Duckett early but Vince and Root got the hosts back on track.
CARDIFF (Dunya News) – England rode on captain Eoin Morgan s half-century to beat Pakistan by 7 wickets in Cardiff in the only T20I on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 174 runs, England lost Duckett early but Vince and Root got the hosts back on track. Then, Root and Morgan stitched a 65-run stand, which almost laid the platform for the win. And in the end, Denly s cameo 20 from 12 balls crushed any little hopes Pakistan had after Root s wicket.
Captain Morgan s form will be the key for England come the World Cup. He had been going through some patchy form but this knock will increase his confidence. His knock of 57 from 29 balls included 5 fours and 3 sixes and he got his form back.
Earlier, Babar Azam and Haris Sohail shared a century as Pakistan made a challenging total of 173 for six in their lone Twenty20 international against England. Both batsmen struck fifties, Babar top-scoring with 65 and Haris 50 exactly with the duo combining well in a third-wicket stand of 103 in 64 balls after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and opted to bat first despite being confronted with a green-tinged pitch at Sophia Gardens.
Jofra Archer took a wicket in his first over as a Twenty20 international bowler, having made his England one-day international debut just two days earlier in a four-wicket win away to Ireland. The Barbados-born fast bowler, renowned for his performances in franchise T20 competitions such as the Indian Premier League, led England s attack with two for 29 in his maximum four overs.
And the Sussex quick, making a late bid to gain a place in tournament hosts England s squad for the upcoming 50-over men s World Cup, lived up to his reputation as an excellent fielder by running out Babar when he threw down the stumps at the bowler s end.
Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman for seven when a drive off Tom Curran was well held at cover by England captain Eoin Morgan, who took a catch above his head.
Archer, whose variations posed problems for Pakistan, reduced the tourists to 31 for two in the fifth over when a rising delivery rapped Imam-ul-Haq (seven) on the gloves to give wicket-keeper Ben Foakes a comfortable catch.
Babar and Haris then rebuilt the innings with some well-judged aggression, with Haris hitting the first six of the innings off Chris Jordan. Babar then struck successive sixes off spinner Joe Denly to complete a 31-ball fifty. Pakistan then saw both their well-set batsmen fall in quick succession, Archer removing Haris before he ran out Babar. But they still managed to score 18 runs from a last over bowled by Jordan, Archer s fellow Sussex paceman.
Previously, Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed is hopeful for a victorious start of the England tour after winning three practice games.
Young pacer Mohammad Hasnain is likely to make his T20I debut against England today. Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are other key players for Pakistan.
On the other hand, England captain Eoin Morgan is also confident to win the contest in home conditions.
The T20I will be followed by five-match one-day international (ODI) series between both countries from May 8-19, and the ten-team World Cup 2019 will begin on May 30 in England and Wales.
Pakistan Squad:
The two teams will also play five One-Day Internationals during the series. The first one-day match will be played on the 8th of this month.
