Babar, Rizwan steer Pakistan to incredible 10-wicket win

BABAR Azam hit 110 not out and Mohammad Rizwan an unbeaten 88 as Pakistan pulled off a remarkable 10-wicket victory over England to level the sides’ Twenty20 series at 1-1.

Chasing 200, Pakistan’s opening pair produced a batting masterclass in Karachi to seal the win with three balls to spare.

Babar reached a sublime century from 62 balls, delighting the raucous home crowd, while Rizwan hit four sixes in a whirlwind 51-ball knock.

It meant Pakistan set a new record for the highest chase in all men’s T20s without losing a wicket.

England, who had never previously lost a T20 by 10 wickets, were put to the sword – Alex Hales’ drop of Rizwan on 23 proving crucial.

The tourists had looked heavy favourites at the halfway stage when racking up 199-5 as Moeen Ali smashed 55 not out from 23 balls and Ben Duckett an enterprising 43.

The sides play again in less than 24 hours with the third match of the seven-match series taking place today, again in Karachi.

ENGLAND PUT TO THE SWORD
England’s bowlers had impressed in the first T20 but here they were unable to threaten or stop the flow of runs on a pitch that became faultless after looking tricky early on.

Leg-spinner Rashid was not his usual self – he was hit for two sixes and three fours in a three-over spell which cost 34 runs – while the left-arm pace attack of Sam Curran, Luke Wood and David Willey offered little.

Wood, so impressive in taking three wickets on debut on Tuesday, was handed the penultimate over with 20 runs needed but conceded 17 including three wides.

England are without a host of frontline bowlers who they hope will be fit for next month’s World Cup, such as Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan and Reece Topley. Wood’s pace and Jordan’s ability to stem the flow of runs was particularly missed.

Little fault can be put on the batters, who propelled England to a good score.

After Hales and Dawid Malan were bowled in consecutive balls by seamer Shahnawaz Dahani, Ben Duckett impressed with an innings of sweeps and reverse sweeps, hitting seven fours and no sixes.

The 27-year-old was bowled by Nawaz attempting another sweep but afterwards Moeen powered England on.

The left-hander slog-swept leg-spinner, Usman Qadir, for back-to-back sixes early on, as he put on 59 with Harry Brook, who sparkled again for 31 from 19 balls.

Moeen repeated the feat off the final two balls of the innings, off the pace of Mohammad Hasnain, to reach his half-century but that knock was soon overshadowed by the the brilliance of Babar and Rizwan. (BBC Sport)