163/10 (19.2)
CR : 8.43
166/4 (20.0)
CR : 8.30
Pakistan won by 3 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Haris Rauf
3/32
Ishan: What a thrilling contest we are witnessing here. Still anybody's game.
19.2
W
M Wasim to R Topley
Fuller length on the stumps, Topley pushes and runs towards the mid-on region and sets off. Babar Azam hits the timber as Topley is short of his ground for 0 off 3 balls. England have been bowled out for 163 in 19.2 overs. Pakistan have won this contest by 3 runs to level the series 2-2 with 3 games to spare which will be played in Lahore next week. What a game we witnessed tonight.
R Topley 0(3)
Run Out (S Masood)
4s/6s
0/0
SR
0.00
PAK won by 3 runs
23 31 IST: Pakistan have leveled the series 2-2 by winning this by just 3 runs. My goodness, what a win this is for Pakistan. What a comeback from Men in Green, brilliant, absolutely brilliant from Babar Azam and Pakistan. Liam Dawson's innings almost pulled off the chase for England but an excellent 19th over from Haris Rauf ( 5 runs and 2 wickets) brought them back into the contest. Skipper Babar's sensational direct throw in the final over sealed the close deal for his side. Heck of a contest this was, England would be really disappointed to lose this closing encounter.
Earlier with the contributions from Rizwan (88), Babar (36), and Asif (13* off 3 balls), Pakistan had posted a bit under par total of 166/4 in their 20 overs. In reply, England got a horrible start as Philip Salt (8), Alex Hales (5), and Will Jacks (0) got out in the very first two overs of the match. However, after that, the in-form duo of Ben Duckett and Harry Brook added 43 runs partnership for the fourth wicket before Duckett (33) was done by Nawaz. Skipper Moeen Ali then came at number 6 and built 49 runs partnership with Brook at the other end. When it seems they are cruising in the chase, the host fought back with two quick wickets of Moeen (29) and Brook (34). Once England were 113/6 in 14.2 overs and all their hopes were on their lower order after that. David Willey played a couple of cheeky shots but couldn't prolong his 11 runs innings. Pakistan was a hot favorite at that time but Dawson had some other plans and he turned the tables single-handedly for England by smashing 24 runs in Mohammad Hasnain's (18th) over. Dawson's excellent knock of 34 (off 17 balls ) help the visitors nearly pull off the chase. But an excellent 19th over from Rauf brought Pakistan back into the contest and a sensational runout by Babar in the last over has given them a worth-remembering victory.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz and Rauf scalped three wickets, Hasnain got two while Mohammad Wasim Jr chipped in with one. Now the two sides will meet on September 28 for the fifth T20I of the seven-match series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. For now, Hang on for the presentation folks.
Time for the post-match presentation ceremony.
Haris Rauf, Player of the Match: "Thank God, Pakistan won the match, it might have given confidence to the team. Not giving up was in my mind. You have to handle pressure in international matches, I try to execute balls in a pressure situation, will learn from Mark Wood how to bowl pace balls and he can learn from me how to bowl slower ones, I like him as a bowler."
Moeen Ali, England Captain: "Amazing game of cricket. It went both ways as the pendulum swung both ways. Great for the crowd. It was a gettable score. We hung in there after losing wickets and then Brook played well and then Dawson played well. It happens under pressure and we will learn and come back stronger."
Babar Azam, Pakistan Captain: "I think it was a heart attack for us. With the batting, we were 10 runs short, but Asif Ali with 2 sixes at the end gave us the momentum, and then we were terrific with the ball and in the field. We have a flexible middle order and we use players according to the situation. I think the way Haris Rauf bowled under pressure was amazing, to say the least. Yes, great series and a great night here. Karachi was good and now we look forward to Lahore with the series' nice setup."
That's it for today. This is Ishan Lalwani signing off with my co-commentator Ayan Chatterjee along with our scorer/analyst Raju Khariya. We will be back with all the live updates. Until next time, Good Bye from our side, Take Care!!