Lahore September 28 2022: For the second successive game, Pakistan were put in to bat first, scraped to what appeared a below-par total, and saw their bowlers bail them out.
After being bowled out for 145 in 18.5 overs, the hosts took the attack to England with the ball, knocking over three wickets in the powerplay and then squeezing with the spin of Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed.
In the end, a majestic lone hand from Moeen Ali, who scored an unbeaten 51 off 36, threatened to snatch it away in an incredible smash and grab, but debutant Aamer Jamal just about held his nerve, giving Pakistan a six-run win, and a 3-2 series lead.
There has been plenty of criticism of Mohammad Rizwan and his strike rate, but his innings encapsulated why Pakistan value his consistency so much. On an off-day with the bat and a splendid bowling performance from England, spearheaded by Mark Wood and David Willey, Rizwan hung around until the 18th over, and was the ninth wicket to fall. He had racked up 63 off 46; the next highest score from a Pakistan batter was 15. It allowed Pakistan to get to something resembling respectability, particular as humid, heavy conditions threatened to slow down both the pitch and the outfield. Even so, the odds were heavily against them, with Pakistan never having defended a total this low in their home country.
England could have put the game to bed early on, but instead let Pakistan in with a spate of bizarre, reckless shots that went straight to fielders. Phil Salt picked out the only man out in the deep on the leg side in the fourth over, but it had taken Alex Hales just five balls to find backward point trying to slice a delivery that had turned and gripped. Ben Duckett, who has exploited the field so masterfully at times this series, fell into the most basic trap Pakistan had set, edging one straight down deep third’s throat with the man stationed specifically for that shot.
After the Powerplay was done, Babar Azam turned immediately to Shadab, and having assessed that spin would be hard to get away paired him up with Iftikhar. England could neither stick nor twist against the two, continuing to lose wickets without scoring very many runs. It wasn’t until Moeen, who had scrapped through the early phase of his innings, began to cut loose that England realised a remarkable heist was on. A slew of fours and sixes off the middle of his bat took the game deep, before Jamal held steady and closed out the game with the final delivery.
