Manchester, Sep 2 (UNI) Veteran Mohammad Hafeez and debutant Haider Ali hit half-centuries for Pakistan as they beat England in the third and final T20I by 5 runs to draw the series 1-1 at the Old Trafford.
Pakistan were sent out to bat after England won the toss and they were guided to a brilliant 190/4 by Mohammad Hafeez’s unbeaten 86 and debutant Haider Ali’s 54. In reply, England were restricted to 185/8 at the end of the 20 overs on Tuesday.
It was Pakistan’s first win of the tour in its last game and gives the team something to show from a two-month trip which its players spent in an isolated environment.
Earlier, Pakistan got off to a bad start as Moeen Ali dismissed Fakhar Zaman with his first ball to give England an early breakthrough. Babar Azam also fell before the end of the Powerplay, bowled by Tom Curran
However, the 19-year-old Haider Ali ensured the bowlers couldn't get on top. After hitting his second ball for six, he continued to play with freedom and began to build a big partnership with Hafeez.
Haider brought up his fifty from just 28 balls, becoming the first Pakistan batsman to score a half-century on T20I debut. Hafeez then took charge, racing to his own half-century from 31 balls before Chris Jordan bowled Haider with an in-swinging yorker to break the partnership, which was worth exactly 100 runs.
The 38-year-old batsman ended the innings unbeaten on 86* from 52 balls with four fours and six sixes as Pakistan posted 190/4.
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