Jos Buttler’s 59 and all-round performance by Moeen Ali helped England beat Pakistan by 45 runs in the Second T20 international at Headingley on Sunday.
After being sent into bat by Pakistan skipper, England lost opener Jason Roy in the first over to Imad Wasim. Dawid Malan failed with the bat, as England were reduced to 18/2.
Moeen Ali along with stand-in skipper Buttler stitched together a solid 67 run stand for the third wicket before the former perished to Mohammad Hasnain for an entertaining 16 ball-36.
The 31 year old Buttler and Liam Livingstone were involved in yet another valuable 52 run stand for the fourth wicket before the former perished in the 14th over. Jonny Bairstow (5) and Livingstone (38) departed soon reducing England to 164/6.
Pakistan chipped away with wickets at regular intervals as England were bowled out for 200.
Mohammad Hasnain was Pakistan’s best bowler with figures of 3/51, while Imad Wasim and Haris Rauf claimed 2 wickets each.
Chasing 201, Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan got their team off to a fantastic start. The pair added 50 runs for the opening wicket before the former fell to Saqib Mahmood for 22. Sohaib Maqsood scored 15 off 10 balls before being stumped by Buttler off Adil Rashid.
Rashid and Moeen Ali then dismissed Rizwan (37), Mohammad Hafeez (10) and Fakhar Zaman (8) in quick succession leaving the visitors in big trouble at 95/5.
Shadab Khan (36*) and Imad Wasim (20) provided some resistance with the bat as Pakistan ended up with 155/9 in their allotted 20 overs. The home side registered a comfortable 45 run win and levelled the three match series 1-1.
Mahmood was England’s best bowler with figures of 3/33, while Rashid and Ali claimed 2 wickets each.
Moeen Ali was declared the Man of the Match for his all round performance. The final T-20 international will be played on July 20, Tuesday.