Pakistan secure dramatic victory over England to level series

For the second time this weekend, the defeat for an England team was confirmed by a run-out. As for their female colleagues hours earlier, there was fear at the end of the non-rush hour. But luckily no bitterness.

And so a series hitherto contested in impeccable spirit goes to Lahore today concluded at 2-2 after England silenced the fourth full house of the week at the National Stadium with an unexpected dash before the finish line by Liam Dawson and then reduced it to its raw best with a disastrous finale.

A comparison of 33 of 18 deliveries was reduced to just five of 10 when Dawson spooned a short ball from Haris Rauf to midwicket and stood motionless as the catch was completed at midwicket.

Reece Topley Was The Last Man Out As He Was Held Up For Trying To Get Adil Rashid On Strike

Liam Dawson broke four boundaries in an over, but his heroism proved in vain

The decision to stay still rather than run turned out to be crucial. It left debutant Olly Stone in place of the more competent Adil Rashid facing Rauf’s toe-crushing lightning bolts and then Reece Topley a ball later when, to an increasingly fascinating roar, a perfectly pitched yorker lit up the stumps and the stands.

Topley survived one leg before being judged from the next, but found himself going on strike when the ball was thrown to Mohammad Hasnain, ready for redemption after being mauled by Dawson’s hands, with four needed.

It was in an effort to get Rashid back to work that Topley succumbed as the final’s second ball dribbled over the leg side and Shan Masood made a more decisive dive than the giant English fast bowler’s – a direct forearm into the stumps that seal the success of three runs.

On such narrow margins, series swing but captain Moeen Ali – who chose to hunt on the same field used for Thursday’s 10-wicket romp by the Pakistanis – said: ‘With three wickets left, we should have won, but these things happen. That’s what pressure does.’

Matches involving Pakistan often led to chaos, but here they were relatively flawless compared to England, who seemed to have stolen a 3-1 lead through the efforts of an unlikely hero.

Mohammad Nawaz (L) played with the ball and took three wickets for Pakistan

Haris Rauf also provided a match-changing moment, taking over two wickets in two balls in the 19th

Dawson started Hasnain’s penultimate over of the evening by moving up to a six over long-off and towards the end of that, some locals flocked to the exits as four straight fours – the first from a no-ball – plus a single saw 23 the requirement wiped out.

A man picked mainly for his sluggish left arm looked like he was about to enjoy the best 15 minutes of a career in England that went through a four-year hiatus before being recalled in early 2022.

Only before his departure for a quick fire 34 to lead to Pakistan to celebrate their 200th Twenty20 international in style.

It looked like England had fortunes when, after a disastrous start to a chase of 167, their man of the moment Harry Brook was dropped on cover at four and then survived when a delivery from part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed clipped off the stump but failed. managed to release a bail.

Harry Brook continued his good form hitting 34 before being caught fine-leg

Ben Duckett also looked good hitting a classy 33 before getting stuck lbw

But it ran out when he was sixth and a bouncer from Mohammad Wasim hooked right down the throat of his fine leg.

Brook and Ben Duckett, England’s top two hitters on the tour, reunited in the second over of the chase as the tourists led the tourists with ultra-aggression in the 14-3 power play.

Phil Salt hit two limits from the first three balls sent down by left arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz but collapsed trying to hit a third as he dragged straight into the deep midwicket.

Hasnain then took advantage of hitting the ball in the middle of the field as he knocked off returning Alex Hales and Will Jacks in quick succession.

But England got back into the business through Brook and Moeen Ali. Both used their feet to hit huge sixes from Nawaz, over 19, and England had as many runs as Pakistan halfway through.

However, the four in the wickets column were the problem, especially considering the trio of changes made by England – including Sam Curran for David Willey and debutant Olly Stone for Mark Wood – extended the tail.

The decision began to show when Nawaz, with 62 required from 42 balls, was reintroduced into offense and slipped his first ball under Moeen’s full swing.

Mohammad Rizwan hit his third half-century of the series to help Pakistan after 166-4

Asif Ali hit two late sixes to finish 13th with three balls and helped Pakistan achieve a defensible total

Previously, Mohammad Rizwan formed the backbone of Pakistan’s score as he judged a winning range and responded with a measured 88.

But it was returning Asif Ali who eventually put the home side out of reach, hitting two of the three balls he encountered in Topley’s innings and hitting the ropes into the arc at midwicket.

As with most things, Moeen took the result in stride and with good grace, when he added: ‘It was a great game of cricket, it went both ways and kept swinging.