Rizwan, Jamal help Pakistan down England in fifth T20 to take lead 3−2
Rizwan’s 46-ball 63 was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s 145 all out in 19 overs ater Wood grabbed 3-20 to derail the home team. England’s Moeen smashed 51 runs but failed to score the 15 needed off the final over
Prolific opener Mohammad Rizwan hit a fighting half-century before debutant all-rounder Aamer Jamal starred with the ball as Pakistan beat England by six runs in another last-over finish in the fith T20 international in Lahore on Wednesday.
Rizwan’s 46-ball 63 was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s 145 all out in 19 overs ater express pacer Mark Wood grabbed 3-20 to derail the home team who were asked to bat first at Gaddafi Stadium.
England’s stand-in skipper Moeen Ali smashed a brilliant undefeated 37-ball 51, with four sixes and two fours, but failed to score the 15 needed off the final over as England managed 139-7.
Jamal kept his cool despite being hit for a six off the third ball, conceding just eight to give Pakistan a 3-2 lead in the seven-match series.
England won the first and third matches while Pakistan took the second and fourth, all played in Karachi.
Pakistan needed wickets to defend a below-par total and all six bowlers responded with at least a wicket each, with Haris Rauf grabbing 2-41.
Openers Alex Hales (one) and Phil Salt (three) were gone by the fourth over before the dismissals of Ben Ducket (10) and Harry Brook (four) let England struggling at 54-4.
Dawid Malan stopped the slide with a patient 35-ball 36, studded with six boundaries, before Ali raised his team’s hopes of victory.
But the asking rate climbed with 40 needed off the last three overs and 28 off the last two.
Moeen reached his seventh T20I fity off 35 balls.
Earlier, Pakistan struggled against the pace of Wood.
Wood -- playing only his second international since an elbow injury in March followed by surgery -- was ably assisted by Sam Curran (2-23) and David Willey (2-23) as Pakistan were dismissed in 19 overs.
Amid a middle-order collapse from 42-1, which saw Pakistan lose six wickets off 48 balls for just 58 runs, Rizwan held on with a defiant knock, his fourth fity in five matches in this series.
Wood dismissed Pakistan skipper Babar Azam in the third over for nine before David Willey removed Shan Masood and Itikhar Ahmed to derail Pakistan.
Mohammad Nawaz (nought) and Shadab Khan (seven) fell to injudicious run outs to leave Pakistan totering at 100-7.
Rizwan completed his 20th T20I half-century before hiting Curran straight into the hands of Adil Rashid at deep square-leg in the 18th over. Rizwan struck three sixes and two fours.
The remaining matches are on Friday and Sunday, also in Lahore.
SHAH DIAGNOSED WITH PNEUMONIA: Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah has been diagnosed with pneumonia and is doubful for the remainder of the Twenty20 series against England.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday that its medical panel is monitoring Shah and the pacer will stay in the hospital at Lahore. “The decision on Naseem Shah’s further participation in the series will be taken ater reviewing his medical reports,” the PCB said in a statement.
Pakistan is due to leave for New Zealand next Monday to participate in a triangular Twenty20 series also featuring Bangladesh. However, the PCB said the decision on Shah’s departure with the team will be taken in due course.
nbrief scores: Pakistan 145 all out in 19 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 63; M. Wood 3-20, D. Willey 2-23, S. Curran 2-23) v England 140-7 in 20 overs (Moeen Ali 51 not out; Haris Rauf 2-41)
toss: England
result: Pakistan won by five runs
series: Pakistan lead 3-2
to play:
6th t20: Lahore, Friday, Sept 30
7th t20: Lahore, Sunday, Oct 2