TWENTY20

Thrilling super over win for England against Pakistan

CRICKET-UAE-PAK-ENG Pakistan's captain Shahid Afridi plays a shot | AFP
  • After both sides tied level on 154, a super over was effected. Pakistan managed just three runs in the extra over bowled by Chris Jordan. England had only two from four balls, and Eoin Morgan took the winning runs from the fifth.

England completed their tour of the UAE with a dramatic super-over win against Pakistan, clinching a 3-0 Twenty20 series whitewash.

After both sides tied level on 154, a super over was effected. Pakistan managed just three runs in the extra over bowled by Chris Jordan

England had only two from four balls, and Eoin Morgan took the winning runs from the fifth.

The victory helped England in moving up to fourth in the Twenty20 rankings while Pakistan, second before the series, fell to sixth.

England won the first match by 14 runs and the second by three runs with speedster Chris Woakes defending 11 in the last over — both matches in Dubai.

Pakistan was unlucky not to win the match after Shoaib Malik smashed a career best 54-ball 75 for his fourth Twenty20 half century and added a quickfire 63 off just 38 balls for the sixth wicket with Shahid Afridi, who made a 20-ball 29.

Malik and Afridi came to the crease with Pakistan struggling at 65-5 as both took the attack to the English bowlers, much to the joy of a packed stadium.

Afridi smashed three sixes off his 20-ball innings before he was bowled by paceman David Willey, who finished with 3-36.

Malik, whose previous best of 57 not out came against India at Bangalore in 2012, hit eight boundaries and two sixes but fell with just two needed for victory.

Pakistan were struggling at 11-3 after losing opener Ahmed Shehzad (four), Mohammad Hafeez to another run out for one and Raffatullah Mohmand (nought) by the third over.

Mohammad Rizwan hit four boundaries in his 24 but he and Umar Akmal (four) fell in quick succession before Malik held the innings well.

England skipper Eoin Morgan was pleased at series win.

“It’s a fantastic job,” said Morgan. “I don’t think we deserved to win today but it was a wonderful Super Over and the series win is very important for our progress.”

Pakistan skipper Afridi said his team needs huge improvement.

“Credit to England, they played well and we played well as well as bad and there are lots of areas we have to improve and improve very fast,” said Afridi.

Earlier James Vince hit a career-best 46 and Woakes (37) lifted England — who won the toss and batted — from a precarious 86-6 during their fighting 60-run stand for the seventh wicket to take them to 154-8.

Vince, who was promoted to open the innings in the absence of Alex Hales, showed maturity by standing firm at one end as wickets fell at regular intervals. He hit three boundaries and a six during his resolute 45-ball knock.

Woakes smashed three sixes and a boundary off just 24 balls to give England some relief after leg-spinner Afridi (2-19) derailed England with two wickets in as many balls.

Afridi dismissed Joe Root (32) and Moeen Ali first ball after debutant Aamer Yamin provided Pakistan the early breakthrough with the wicket of Jason Roy (nought) off the first ball of his career.

Yamin became the first Pakistan and 11th bowler overall to take a wicket with his first ball in Twenty20 cricket, but only bowled two overs, finishing with 1-12.

Lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan, playing his first match in this Twenty20 series, conceded 40 in his four overs while Sohail Tanvir took two late wickets and finished with figures of 2-36.

With agency inputs

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