A new-look England beat clumsy Pakistan by 14 runs in the first Twenty20 international to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday.
England scored a challenging 160-5 in their 20 overs, with Sam Billings hitting a maiden half-century, before Pakistan were bowled out for 146 off the last ball in another roller-coaster batting display.
It was an impressive performance by England considering they rested master blaster Jos Buttler and dependable Joe Root, opting instead to give new players a chance.
Photo: AP
Sohail Tanvir, who top-scored with 25 not out, added 25 for the eighth wicket with Anwar Ali (20) and 45 for the ninth with Wahab Riaz (21) to give England a scare, but 20 runs off the last over proved too much for Pakistan’s tail.
With a modest eight runs an over chase Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals after losing Sarfraz Ahmed for 1 and Mohammad Hafeez for 7.
Raffatullah Mohmand made 16 and Mohammad Rizwan 6.
Umar Akmal (19) and Sohaib Maqsood (24) took the total to 74 when Umar was run out in a most bizzare fashion. Umar’s miscued shot was fielded by Adil Rashid as both batsmen ended at the non-striker’s end in an attempt to take a single.
Pakistan also lost skipper Shahid Afridi for a second-ball duck and Maqsood was stumped — three wickets falling off six balls with the addition of just one run.
Pacemen Liam Plunkett (three for 21) and Reece Topley (three for 24) shared the bowling honors for England.
England skipper Eoin Morgan praised his side’s batting recovery after losing three early wickets.
“It wasn’t easy to comeback after being 19-3, so we are chilled after winning the first match, and it was great to see [James] Vince batting so well and lifting us,” Morgan said.
By contrast, Afridi blamed his team’s poor batting.
“I think the target was chaseable,” Afridi said. “I will not make any excuses, but we batted poorly and have to lift that section because England batted very well.”
Billings (53) and Morgan (45 not out) lifted England with a 65-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help their team score 59 off the final five overs.
England had lost Jason Roy (9), Alex Hales (8) and Moeen Ali (0) for just 19 runs by the fourth over, with left-arm paceman Tanvir taking two for 31.
Debutant Vince struck a 36-ball 41 with a six and six fours, adding 76 for the fourth wicket with Morgan before he was bowled by fast bowler Riaz in the 14th over.
Billings hit two towering sixes and five fours off 25 balls and was run out off the final delivery.
Morgan hit three fours and a six during his 38-ball knock.
Pakistan were forced to leave out all-rounder Shoaib Malik with a finger injury and opener Ahmed Shehzad with an upset stomach.
Mohmand was handed his Twenty20 international debut, becoming the oldest player from a Test playing nation to make his debut in the shortest format at 39 years, 20 days.
India’s Rahul Dravid was the previous oldest to make his Twenty20 debut at 38 years, 232 days when he played against England at Old Trafford in Manchester in 2011.
The second match in the three-game series was due to played in Dubai yesterday, with the third in Sharjah on Monday.
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