The 4th T20I between England and Pakistan went down to the wire. Pakistan came out victorious in the last over of the game by just 3 runs.
Let’s see how it went from the start till the end.
Rizwan Provided Pakistan With a Positive Start
Pakistani openers started the innings quite slowly. Babar struggled for timing, but Rizwan showed great signs earlier in the innings.
After 3 overs, Pakistan had only 23 runs on the board. They tried to accelerate in the next 3 overs and scored 29 more runs to finish the powerplay at 52-0. Babar had scored only one boundary till then. But, Rizwan provided the required acceleration with the help of 7 boundaries.
Rash and Dawson Kept Openers on the Back Foot
Pakistan was in a dominating position at the end of the powerplay. But then the spinners came in to stem the flow of runs. In between 7–12 overs, only one over (8th) was from a pacer. It was bowled by Willey and went for 12 runs.
The other 5 overs were delivered by Rashid & Dawson, and they went for only 34 runs. As Babar gifted a simple catch to the deep mid-wicket fielder, Pakistan was at 98 for 1 at the completion of the 12th over.
Shan and Rizwan Struggled to Change Gears
With 8 overs left in the innings and 9 wickets in hand, the expectation was to get at least 10 an over for the last 8 overs. However, things went quite the opposite way as Shan and Rizwan could manage only 32 runs in the next 4 overs.
It kept getting worse for Pakistan as only 22 more runs came from the following 3 overs. Shan fell to Willey in the 19th over, and Pakistan was looking well short of the par score with only 1 over left. They could score only 54 runs in 42 balls from overs 13–19.
Asif Ali Finished the Innings With a Couple of Lusty Blows
English pacers were finishing brilliantly to restrict Pakistan below 160. But, Asif Ali had other plans as he smashed a couple of gigantic sixes to Topley in the final over.
England team was set a target of 167 runs, which looked under par but defendable.
England’s Top 3 Were Sent Back to the Pavillion in No Time
English white ball players are known for their intent against the new ball, and Phil Salt is no different. He smashed Nawaz for 2 consecutive boundaries to kickstart the innings. But then he holed out to cow corner on the next delivery.
Hasnain brought some serious carnage for England by getting Hales and Jacks out in the next over. Hales was caught at short mid wickets while Jacks lost his stumps while slogging across the line.
Brooks and Duckett put England Back on Track as Nawaz Dropped a Sitter
Brooks and Duckett started the recovery with an aggressive approach. Haris Rauf came to bowl the last over of the powerplay and almost got the breakthrough. But, Nawaz dropped a sitter at short cover to give Brook a reprieve.
Brook and Duckett kept milking runs as the score reached 55–3 after 7 overs were bowled.
Brooks and Moeen Were on the Move After Duckett’s Departure
Nawaz got Brook lbw while he attempted a sweep. Moeen Ali joined Brook at the crease, and both started putting pressure back on Pakistan.
These two added 46 runs in the next 5 overs, and England needed just 62 more runs in the last 7 overs to win the game.
Pakistani Bowlers Fire their Team Back into the Contest
Just when things were slipping out of hand, Nawaz struck gold and cleaned up the English skipper’s stumps. Harry Brook followed him in the next over as he hit one straight down fine leg’s throat.
At the end of the 16th over, England were 6 down with 45 runs. In the 17th over, Willey scooped Rauf twice to hit two 4s. Rauf avenged the next delivery as he sent his stumps cartwheeling.
Dawson Almost Does the Job for England
England were almost out of the game with 33 needed off the last 3 and just 3 wickets in hand. But, Dawson turned the tables by smashing Hasnain for a 24-run over.
As a result, England needed just 9 of the last 12 balls. Babar Azam went to his best bowler – Haris Rauf. However, he was also greeted with a boundary by Dawson. England needed only 5 runs, and it seemed like all over for Pakistan.
Haris Rauf Did the Undoable
Rauf got Dawson caught with a bouncer, and a glimpse of hope emerged amongst the Pakistan team and the fans. The next ball was an absolute rocket from Haris, which destroyed Stone’s stumps.
With 4 required off the final over and Topley on strike, it was going to be a tough ask. He dabbed the 2nd ball of the over into the off side and took off immediately. Shan Masood hit the bull’s eye, and Topley was gone – so were England’s hopes to win the game.
Pakistan managed to secure a spectacular win in a nail-biting contest to square the series 2-2 with 3 games to play.
