England beat Pakistan to seal a 45-run win in the second T20I and level the series at 1-1
England’s stand-in skipper Jos Buttler top-scored with 59 before their spinners ripped through the Pakistan batting unit to seal a 45-run win in the second T20I and level the series at 1-1 on Sunday.
Chasing 201 runs to win at Headingley, Pakistan’s openers made a bright start with the bat but lost their way after England fast bowler Saqib Mahmood dismissed captain Babar Azam (22) in the sixth over.
England tightened their grip in the middle overs as leg-spinner Adil Rashid removed Mohammad Rizwan and Sohaib Maqsood in his second spell.
Off-spinner Moeen Ali removed Mohammad Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman cheaply as Pakistan were left tottering at 95/5.
Azam Khan was stumped off Matt Parkinson’s leg-break, before Mahmood returned to rip through the lower order and restrict the visitors to 155/9 in 20 overs.
Earlier, Buttler marked his return to the national team with his 14th T20I fifty as England were bowled out for 200 with a ball to spare.
Brief scores: England 200 in 19.5 overs (J. Buttler 59). Pakistan 155/9 in 20 ovs (Md. Rizwan 37; S. Mahmood 3/33, M. Ali 2/32). England won by 45 runs.
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