Moeen Ali brilliance not enough as England lose final T20 to Pakistan
Pakistan ended their tour of England with a win as the Twenty20 international series finished level at 1-1 despite the best efforts of Moeen Ali, who returned to form in spectacular fashion at Emirates Old Trafford.
Half-centuries from teenage debutant Haider Ali and veteran Mohammad Hafeez propelled Pakistan to 190 for four after being asked to bat first in this third T20 before England lurched to 69 for four under lights in response.
Moeen had registered just 10 runs in four innings this summer and although he ended his slump with a spectacular 61 off 33 balls, Pakistan wrapped up a five-run victory after Tom Curran was unable to hit a six off the last ball.
Needing 11 off the last two deliveries, Curran creamed Haris Rauf over the covers for a maximum but the lower-order batsman was unable to repeat the trick as England’s run of five successive T20 series wins came to an end.
Eoin Morgan’s side head into a sprint format series against Australia later this week on the back of a defeat but Pakistan were well worth their triumph, with Haider showing why he is one of his country’s brightest prospects.
After his sparkling 54 from 33 deliveries, full of leg-side blows, Mohammad Hafeez amassed 86 not out from 52 deliveries – the best score by a Pakistan batsman in a T20 against England, who were left with a daunting chase.
England vs Pakistan third T20I scorecard
Scorecard from the third Twenty20 international between England and Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford on Tuesday:
Pakistan
Babar Azam b Curran 21
Fakhar Zaman b Moeen 1
Haider Ali b Jordan 54
Mohammad Hafeez not out 86
Shadab Khan c Curran b Jordan 15
Imad Wasim not out 6
Extras (lb1, nb1, w5) 7
Total (4 wkts, 20 overs) 190
Did not bat: Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf
Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Zaman), 2-32 (Babar), 3-132 (Haider), 4-177 (Shadab)
Bowling: Mahmood 4-0-37-0 (1w); Moeen 1-0-10-1; Jordan 4-0-29-2; Curran 4-0-32-1; Gregory 4-0-41-0 (1w, 1nb); Rashid 3-0-40-0 (2w)
England (target: 191)
T. Banton lbw b Rauf 46
J. Bairstow b Afridi 0
D. Malan c Zaman b Imad 7
E. Morgan run out (Babar/Sarfaraz) 10
Moeen Ali c and b Wahab 61
S. Billings c Imad b Wahab 26
L. Gregory b Afridi 12
C. Jordan run out (Wahab) 1
T. Curran not out 8
A. Rashid not out 3
Extras (b5, lb2, nb2, w2) 11
Total (8 wkts, 20 overs) 185
Did not bat: S Mahmood
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Bairstow), 2-26 (Malan), 3-65 (Morgan), 4-69 (Banton), 5-126 (Billings), 6-170 (Gregory), 7-172 (Jordan), 8-174 (Moeen)
Bowling: Afridi 4-0-28-2; Imad 4-0-35-1; Rauf 4-0-41-1 (1nb); Wahab 4-0-26-2 (1nb, 1w); Shadab 4-0-48-0 (1w)
Result: Pakistan won by five runs
Player of the match: Mohammad Hafeez (PAK)
Series: Three-match series level at 1-1
Player of the series: Mohammad Hafeez (PAK)
Umpires: David Millns (ENG), Mike Burns (ENG)
TV umpire: Alex Wharf (ENG)
Match referee: Wayne Noon (ENG)
Previous Results
Aug 28: 1st T20, Emirates Old Trafford: No result (rain)
Aug 30: 2nd T20, Emirates Old Trafford: England won by five wickets
