Match Center

Right then! That is all we have from this game and we hope that you enjoyed our coverage. The series now moves to Leeds for the second T20I on 18th July, 2021 at 1430 Local (1330 GMT) and judging by how this game went, we can surely hope that the rest of the series will also provide us with plenty of entertainment. So do join us for the second T20I. Till then, take care and goodbye!

SHAHEEN AFRIDI HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH! Nice, interesting choice. On a day where batsmen stole the headlines, this bloke had his own say. Afridi says that boundaries are usually short in T20s and the bowlers just gunned for wickets, praising his team's batsmen for putting on a good score. Admits that on true wickets like these, where the ball comes onto the bat, with dew around and also with shorter boundaries, change of pace and variation in lengths are the keys as bowling is very tough. Tells from the heart that doing well is not in his hands but trying hard always is and that is what he always does in every game.

Babar Azam, the Pakistan skipper, is down for a chat. But first, he has to wait for a while as he cannot hear with the fans cheering loudly. He says that the stand between him and Rizwan gave them a good platform and after that, every batter contributed to get them to a big score. Adds that he changes his mindset a bit while playing in the T20 format and enjoys his game. About the bowling, says that they gave their 100 percent and even their fielding was quite good. Credits Shadab Khan for the way he bowled the death over (17th) and took two wickets. Finishes by saying that they want to continue the momentum and look to enjoy the game.

England skipper, Eoin Morgan, is up for a chat first. On being asked as to where did England lack, Morgan says that only one batsman got going, which was the main difference but also looks at it as a huge positive as with just one batter playing, they managed to cross 200. Is happy with the bowlers for starting well and keeping Pakistan under pressure. Feels the plans were in place but the execution wasn't. Feels happy to be under pressure and find out more about his team and how they can improve. Is impressed with Liam Livingstone's knock and says that in the last 6 months, he has watched knocks from Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow but rates this one as high as any one of those. Agrees that Moeen Ali was promoted in this game to give him more opportunities to bat. Ends by saying that this road to the T20 World Cup is all about giving opportunities to players and picking the best possible squad for the mega tournament.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, after being inserted, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan put on a brilliant 150-run stand at the top to put Pakistan in a very strong position. After that, everyone who came to bat played a cameo on a brilliant wicket for batting to get them to 232, their highest T20I score. The English had a tough day with the ball as everyone was taken apart for runs.

England would have wanted a strong start from their openers but that did not happen as Malan fell early and Bairstow and Ali fell for timid scores. Roy clobbered the ball all over the ground as he raced to 32 of 13 balls but could not carry on to get a big score. Livingstone put on a 50-run stand with Morgan but the English skipper was never in full control and fell for 16. While all this was happening, Livingstone was putting on a brilliant master-class of T20 hitting at the other end. He batted brilliantly and kept England in the hunt. He powered his way to a ton but fell towards the death overs. His wicket was the final nail in the coffin as they were bowled out for 201 and fell short by 31 runs. If one of their proper batters had supported Livingstone a bit more, then they could have chased this down.

Pakistan had a great start with the ball as they took 3 wickets in the Powerplay. Afridi took two and Hasnain took 1 but the run rate by England was quite good. After the Powerplay, Shadab Khan took the wicket of a well-set Roy to put England on the back foot and when a partnership was brewing, Wasim took the wicket of the English skipper. They were put under the pump by Livingstone and the game remained in the balance as long as he was out there in the middle but Shadab Khan took the big wicket in the 17th over to put Pakistan well on top after that. He took 3 wickets in total, but Hasnain's performance was very valuable too as he was the one who nailed the yorkers which kept even Livingstone quiet. After Livingstone fell, the bowlers did the mop up and got them to their first victory of the tour.

Finally, Pakistan get a victory on this tour and it has been a well-deserved one. They batted well, bowled well and held their nerves when they were under the pump and their fielding was also quite brilliant. For England, it was a tough day at work. They rested many of their main players and the youngsters could not rise up to the occasion.

OUT! BOWLED! Perfect yorker, around middle, Matt Parkinson is late to get his bat down and his stumps are disturbed. Afridi stands there and blows a kiss to the Pakistan supporters. PAKISTAN WIN BY 31 RUNS!

Yorker length, around middle, Matt Parkinson swings hard but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.

Shaheen Afridi to bowl the final over. 3-0-30-2 so far.

This is around leg stump, on a length again, Mahmood swings but misses. The ball goes between the bat and pad to the keeper. 5 runs and a wicket in his final over to end a torrid night. Haris Rauf finishes with figures of 4-0-44-1.

Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Saqib Mahmood swings but misses.

Matt Parkinson is the last man in.

OUT! Finally, Haris Rauf gets a wicket. A length ball, outside off, David Willey swings this towards mid-wicket. Gets good connection but Shadab Khan runs across to his left and takes a good catch near the ropes.

Another slower delivery, it is a dot ball again. On a length, around off, DW gets down and looks to mow a slog but misses and gets hit on the body. The ball rolls behind to the keeper.