On their return to Pakistan after a long wait of seven years, Moeen Ali-led England side won the long seven-T20I series by 4-3 with a comprehensive win by 67 runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. As Pakistan openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam failed to make an impact in a pressure run chase, their middle-order crumbled as it was expected. In the end, it turned out to be a one-sided affair in a series which saw several nail-biting encounters.
Pakistan's run chase went off the tracks before it could pick up pace. In the first over, skipper Babar (4) lost his wicket to Chris Woakes. Left-arm pacer Reece Topley got Rizwan's (1) wicket in the next over. Pakistan were reduced to 5/2 in the second over. David Willey was introduced as the first change bowler and he delivered with the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed. At the end of powerplay overs, Pakistan had 37 runs on the board for the loss of three wickets.
Shan Masood tried to bring some calm in the middle. Masood and Khushdil Shah managed to put together a partnership but the required run rate kept climbing. Adil Rashid broke the partnership with Khushdil's wicket in the 13th over. Pakistan's middle order woes continued. Asif Ali (7) lost his wicket to Woakes.
Masood held on to one end but Pakistan's comeback into the game looked near impossible in the slog overs. Sam Curran got Mohammad Nawaz's (9) wicket in the 18th over. In the same over Masood got to his half-century as well but it did not have an impact on the outcome of the final T20I of the series. Woakes got the wicket of Masood off the final ball of his spell. The southpaw scored 56 runs from 43 deliveries including four fours and one six. Willey finished the wicket of Mohammad Wasim Jr. (5) in the final over of the innings as England registered a massive win by 67 runs. Woakes turned out to be the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 26 runs.
After winning the toss, Babar opted to field first. Philip Salt and Alex Hales got England off to an ideal start in the powerplay overs. The fifth over changed the complexion of the game as Mohammad Hasnain got Alex Hales' (18) wicket and Shadab ran out in-form Salt (20). Despite the two wickets, England had 57 runs on the board after powerplay overs.
In the middle overs, Ben Duckett and Dawid Malan hammered Pakistan bowlers around the park. Duckett's knock came to an end as Rizwan pulled off a run out from behind the stumps. Duckett scored 30 runs from just 19 deliveries in the 62-run partnership. Malan got a reprieve in the 12th over by skipper Babar at extra cover. He was batting at 29 from 19 deliveries.
Middle-order batter Harry Brook did not just play second fiddle to Malan. Brook took on the bowlers as they lost control. In the 17th over, Malan got to his half-century from 34 deliveries. Malan was dropped again in the penultimate over. Wasim Jr. dropped the catch at deep mid-wicket. The fours and sixes did not stop till the end. Wasim Jr. ended up conceding 61 runs from his quota of four overs and remained wicketless.
England posted a huge total of 209/3 on the board. Malan remained unbeaten for 78 runs off 47 deliveries including eight fours and three sixes. Brook missed his half-century. He remained not out for 46 off 29 deliveries including one four and four sixes.
