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Alex Hales made a superb return to England set up as the Three Lions defeated Pakistan in the first T20I by six wickets at the National Stadium in Karachi on September 20 (Tuesday). The right-handed explosive batter played a stylish knock of 53 runs in 40 balls as England chased down Pakistan's total of 158-7 with four balls to spare.
After being asked to bat first, the Men in Green got off to a terrific start as their two big guns - captain Babar Azam and his opening partner Mohammad Rizwan - stitched an 85-run alliance for the first wicket. Just when Babar was looking to switch gears, leg-spinner Adil Rashid bamboozled the Pakistan skipper with a superb delivery.
On the third ball of the 10th over, Rashid unleashed a disguised googly that went past the inside edge of Babar's bat and crashed onto the stumps, leaving the right-hander batter completely flummoxed.
Watch Adil Rashid's brilliant delivery here:
Babar walked back to the pavilion after scoring 31 runs off 24 balls. After the dismissal of their skipper, Pakistan's middle-order failed to cash in on the perfect platform. Mohammad Rizwan continued his rich vein of form with the bat as he top scored for the Men in Green. The wicketkeeper-batter aggregated 68 runs in 46 balls.
Pakistan, who are now behind the eight ball after losing the first game, will have a chance to gain parity on September 22 (Thursday) when they face England in the second T20I. The two teams are squaring off in a lengthy seven-match series.
