PAKISTAN levelled the two-match Twenty20 series in Dubai with a four-wicket win over England in the second Twenty20 after a belligerent 46 from Abdul Razzaq powered his side to victory.
England posted a hefty 148 for six after Kevin Pietersen compiled a composed 62 off 52 balls, and shared a 98-run partnership with Jonathan Trott (39), but Razzaq’s 18-ball blitz turned the match in Pakistan’s favour.
England have never defended a total of less than 150 in Twenty20 cricket and Razzaq ensured that Paul Collingwood’s side could not confound that statistic with five sixes in a stunning display of clean hitting.
Yasir Arafat produced the most impressive figures in the Pakistan ranks courtesy of two wickets in the final over as England set their opponents a testing total to chase on another slow wicket at the vast Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Yorkshire paceman Ajmal Shahzad made a dream start to his international career with two wickets in his first over, those of Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat, but skipper Shoaib Malik (13) and Umar Akmal consolidated the early losses with good composure.
Shahid Afridi made his eagerly-awaited return following his two-match ban for ball-tampering, but the enigmatic all-rounder could not make an impact as he departed for an uncharacteristically subdued eight, with Graeme Swann taking his wicket.
Swann was England’s most consistent and potent bowler and the off-spinner finished with fine figures of three wickets for 14 runs from his four overs.
But that brought Fawad Alam (28) and Razzaq together at the crease, and the pair proceeded to dominate the England bowling with some uncompromising hitting and determined running between the wickets.
After winning the opening Twenty20 by seven wickets on Friday, England can take a lot of encouragement from their performances in Dubai, but world champions Pakistan showed that they can never be counted out. (Eurosport)