England celebrate after whitewashing Pakistan 3-0
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
England got the better of Pakistan in their first-ever Twenty20 International Super Over to complete a 3-0 whitewash in Sharjah.
Pace bowler Chris Jordan was the hero for England as he conceded just three runs in the Super Over and also dismissed Umar Akmal on the last ball.
But, prior to the Super Over, England, who opted to bat first, were led by opener James Vince as he smashed a solid 46 off 45 balls, which included three boundaries and a six.
Vince was England’s top-scorer with 46 runs
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Vince received some excellent support while batting with Joe Root as the latter scored 32. But, with England’s middle order failing to fire, it was pace bowler Chris Woakes who provided England with a major spark towards the end of their innings as he blasted 37 off 24 deliveries, which included one boundary and three sixes.
Thanks to Vince, Root and Woakes’ contributions, England finished on 154/8 off their 20 overs.
Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi and Sohail Tanvir picked up two wickets apiece, while debutant Aamer Yamin, Anwar Ali and Shoaib Malik chipped in with one wicket each.
Chasing 155 to win, Pakistan were reduced to 65/6 in the 12th over, but Malik refused to go down without a fight and launched a major counter-attack which saw him smash a career-best 75 off 54 balls, which included eight boundaries and two sixes.
Malik’s career-best knock of 75 went in vain
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Malik was well supported by Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan, but was unable to see Pakistan home as he was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the match.
With Pakistan needing two runs to win off the final ball, Tanvir missed his heave, but managed to run a bye, which saw the match end as a tie and subsequently proceed into a Super Over.
David Willey was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Woakes, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid claimed one wicket each.
In the Super Over, Jordan gave away just three runs off his first five balls before he uprooted Akmal’s leg stump with his final delivery.
Jordan starred for England in the Super Over
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
In response, England left it late, but managed to score the winning runs on the fourth ball of Afridi’s over.
Malik was named Man of the Match for his valiant innings.