England’s bowlers take Babar bashing
Pakistan openers pull off biggest ever T20 win
England were crushed in Karachi last night as Pakistan’s underfire openers inflicted upon them the biggest 10-wicket win in Twenty20 history.
Only in Pakistan, where expectation and passion reach levels other places around the globe cannot comprehend, could Babar azam and Mohammad Rizwan — the no1-ranked batsmen in one-day and T20 internationals respectively — walk to the crease feeling such heat.
But they doused things spectacularly in a stunning double-century stand — captain Babar leading the way with an unbeaten 110.
England’s sole chance of separating the first-wicket pair was created in the final over of the power play when Rizwan, on 23, was put down over his head by alex Hales, backpedaling from mid-off, after the recalled left-arm spinner liam
dawson held the ball back to induce a mistake.
Instead of being 46 for one, Pakistan were 54 without loss next delivery as Rizwan ploughed the ball into the night sky and over long-on for six.
‘We take our catch and it’s a different game in my opinion,’ said England captain Moeen ali, who reckoned the other significant juncture of a wicketless chase that dwarfed new Zealand’s successful pursuit of 169 against the Pakistanis six years ago came when he introduced himself with 96 required off the final eight overs.
‘We lost it when I bowled my own over. It was a gamble on my part, and didn’t work,’ added Moeen, after conceding three sixes and 21 runs in total.
The mastery with which Babar and Rizwan batted made fools of everyone, as both captains reckoned a fresh pitch would deteriorate. England opened up a 1-0 lead chasing on Tuesday, but this time Moeen opted to bat — a decision that appeared to be vindicated when he himself struck a rapid, unbeaten half-century.
However, a lack of penetration with the ball from an attack comprising three left-armers was exposed by players accused in Pakistani cricket circles of chewing up too many balls early on. On this occasion, Babar caught up spectacularly to reach triple figures off just 62 of them.
The din that greeted the landmark had barely died down when Rizwan survived a halfchance in the penultimate over — Moeen getting his fingertips on a cover drive.
and England’s first 10-wicket loss in the game’s shortest format was confirmed with three balls unused when Babar carved david Willey — who is disturbingly going at more than 11 an over heading into today’s third match of seven — through the off side.
‘Those two have been the best players in the world over the last couple of years and it’s ridiculous that they’ve faced such criticism,’ reflected Moeen. ‘They’re both really busy, hit you into different areas, and they run really well.’
Babar added: ‘We don’t listen to sniping. There will always be criticism, and if you don’t do well, people are waiting to pounce.’
It appeared that Pakistan were struggling in their bid to win just a fourth T20 in nine attempts this calendar year when England recovered from a double strike by fast bowler Shahnawaz dahani that accounted for Hales and dawid Malan.
Ben duckett repelled the hattrick chance, and proved a worthy fill-in for the resting, World Cup-bound Ben Stokes, sweeping Pakistan’s spinners to distraction in a 22-ball 43.
Harry Brook then combined in a stand of 59 off 27 deliveries with Moeen, striking three sixes in a contribution of 31 as England upped the tempo. They then appeared out of sight when Moeen made the most of a comical reprieve in the 18th over.
anticipating Khushdil Shah would complete an easy catch at deep midwicket, dahani set off on his customary, finger-pointing celebratory charge towards the commentary box. But it turned into a slapstick moment as he ended up within yards of the long-off boundary before being ushered back to the top of his bowling mark by Babar.
For Pakistan, such a miss appeared no joke. Moeen, owner of England’s fastest-ever T20 half-century, is a dangerous man to reprieve and when he found himself on strike for the final two balls of the innings, he clinically deposited both over the ropes.
But it was Pakistan that enjoyed the last laugh — and how.