Mohammad Hafeez and debutant Haider Ali scored scintillating half centuries, as Pakistan beat England by 5 runs in the third and final T-20 international at Old Trafford on Tuesday to level the series 1-1.
After being sent into bat, Pakistan were rocked early as off spinner Off-spinner Moeen Ali struck with his first ball of the match when he bowled Fakhar Zaman for 1.
Star batsman Babar Azam, was dismissed by Tom Curran for 21, as the visitors were reduced to 32/2.
The duo of Haider and veteran Mohammad Hafeez brought the innings back on track with a 100 run stand for the third wicket, before 19 year old Haider was bowled by Chris Jordan for an entertaining 54. His knock comprised of five fours and two sixes.
Hafeez remained unbeaten on 86, as Pakistan posted an imposing 190/4 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.
Jordan was the England’s best bowler as he claimed 2/29, while Moeen Ali and Tom Curran picked up a wicket each.
England’s chase started disastrously as Jonny Bairstow was bowled by beauty of a ball from Shaheen Shah Afridi in the very first over for a duck. Later on Dawid Malan was caught superbly in the deep by Fakhar Zaman off Imad Wasim, as the home side were 26/2.
The pair of Tom Banton along with skipper Eoin Morgan kept England in the game, before a mix up and sharp fielding by Babar sent back England captain Morgan run out for 10.
Banton fell leg before to Haris Rauf with just four run shy of a second half-century of the series, as England were in a spot of bother at 69/4.
Moeen along with Sam Billings added 57 runs for the fifth wicket to put England back on track, before the latter was dismissed by Wahab.
The 33 year old left hander smashed three sixes off Shadab Khan to bring the equation to 42 off the last four overs. He reached his half-century in 25 balls.
Lewis Gregory added some crucial runs before being bowled by Shaheen. By then, England needed 21 off 13 deliveries.
Riaz, ran out Chris Jordan and then dismissed Moeen as England were 174-8.
With 17 requiring off the last over, Curran hit Harris for a six in the penultimate ball, but was unable to repeat off the last delivery as the home side went down by 5 runs.
Mohammad Hafeez was declared the Man of the Match.