Hafeez leads Pakistan to series-levelling victory despite Ali’s best efforts
Pakistan ended their tour of England with a win as the Twenty20 international series finished level at 1-1 despite the best efforts of Moeen Ali, who returned to form at Emirates Old Trafford.
Half-centuries from teenage debutant Haider Ali and veteran Mohammad Hafeez propelled Pakistan to 190 for four after being asked to bat first in this third T20 before England lurched to 69 for four under lights in response.
Moeen had registered just 10 runs in four innings this summer and although he ended his slump with a spectacular 61 off 33 balls, Pakistan wrapped up a five -run victor y after Tom Curran was unable to hit a six off the last ball.
Needing 11 off the last t wo deliveries, Curran creamed Haris Rauf over the covers for a maximum but was unable to repeat the trick as England’s run of five successive T 20 series wins came to an end.
Eoin Morgan’s side head into a sprint format series against Australia later this week on the back of a defeat but Pakistan were well worth their triumph, with Haider showing why he is one of his country’s brightest prospects.
After his sparkling 54 from 33 deliveries, full of leg-side blows, Mo ham mad Ha feez amassed 86 not out from 52 deliveries – the best score by a Pakistan batsman in aT 20 against England, who were left with a daunting chase.
At the Ageas Bowl, Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne staked a claim for a spot in their side for that series against England Twenty20 side with a stunning century while wicket keeper Alex Carey provided a reminder of his batting exploits.
La busch ag ne, who has established himself as a key figure in red-ball cricket, is yet to play for his country in the shortest format, but scored 100 off 51 balls in the second of two intra-squad matches yesterday. He put on 181 with Carey, who struck 107 to followup a half-century in the first match between the Finch XI and Cummins XI.
After wicket keeper rival Matthew Wade had donned the gloves for the first time on the tour earlier in the day and scored a fifty as well, it was a timely innings for them an who recently had the vice-captaincy taken off him.
The first match of the day saw David Warner was bowled for a golden duck by Ashton Agar as the Cummins XI to restricted their opponents to 166 for eight. However it would still prove too many. Wicketkeeper Carey stuck around and used 43 balls to score 50 not out but the Cummins XI lost by 23 runs, ending on 143 for six.
Riley Meredith sat out the second match due to soreness while Warner and Marsh swapped with Carey and Maxwell and JoshHaz le wood played for Finch XI, who made 229 for three
That turned out to be more than enough as the Cummins XI were restricted to 197 for nine.
The first of the three T 20 inter nationals between the tourist sand England is at the Southampton venue on Friday.