The 1st T20 match of the series played between England vs Pakistan yesterday at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. In this high voltage match Pakistan beat England by 31 runs and lead the three match T20 series by 1-0. Pakistan just need to win one match to be the series winner but England must win the remaining two match to be the series winner. So next match will be more interesting.
England won the toss and elected to bowl first. Pakistani openers Rizwan and Babar Azam started very well and made 150 runs opening partnership just in 14.4 overs thats a great start for team Pakistan. Rizwan scored 63 runs in 41 balls including 8 fours and one six. Pak skipper Babar Azam scored 85 runs in 49 balls including 8 fours and 3 sixes. After falling Babar and Rizwan's wickets one by one Maqsood, Fakhar Zaman and Hafeez came out and they are all played super attacking short innings. Maqsood scored 19 runs in 7 balls including 1 four and 2 sixes, Fakhar Zaman scored 26 runs in 8 balls including 1 four and 3 sixes, Hafeez scored 24 runs in 10 balls including 1 four and 3 sixes. Finally Pakistan scored total 232 runs by 6 wickets.
It's very hard to control opposite team batsman especially for a strong team like Pakistan on a batting pitch and English bowlers failed to stop Pak batsman. English all rounder Tom Curran picked up 2 wickets. Willey, Saqib Mahmood, Gregory each picked up 1 wicket.
In reply English batsman couldn't start well. They have lost top orders Malan, Bairstow, Moeen Ali very early. Jason Roy started very well but finally gone for 32 runs in 13 balls including 2 fours and 3 sixes. England lost total four wickets just for scoring 82 runs. Then Eoin Morgan came out and made a 50 runs partnership with Liam Livingstone then Morgan gone. After Morgan's wickets there was a wickets rally. But Liam Livingstone played an outstanding innings and made his maiden century in T20 career. He scored 103 runs in 43 balls including 6 fours and 9 sixes. Finally England packed up for 201 runs in 19.2 overs.
Pak Pacer Shaheen Afridi and Hasnain bowled really well. Shaheen picked up 3 wickets and Hasnain 1 wicket but both were very economical in this high scoring match. Shadab Khan picked up 3 wickets, Rauf and Imad each picked up 1 wicket. Shaheen Afridi was player of the match for his brilliant bowling performance.