Staff Reporter.
England’s spinners squeezed Pakistan to claim an emphatic 45-run victory in the second Twenty20 and level the series at 1-1.
Though Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone – who twice hit sixes out of Headingley – all sparkled with the bat, England failed to post a total that would have put Pakistan out of the game.
From 137-3 in the 14th over and 164-5 in the 16th, England lost their last five wickets for 36 runs to be bowled out for 200.
However, England’s trio of spinners, led by Adil Rashid, superbly exploited a pitch that rapidly deteriorated.
Rashid claimed 2-30, fellow leg-spinner Matt Parkinson 1-25 and off-break bowler Moeen 2-32 as Pakistan lurched to 155-9.
England’s victory squares the series at 1-1 and sets up a tantalising decider at Emirates Old Trafford.
Meanwhile Shakib Al Hasan put on a masterclass with his unbeaten 96 in a nervy chase against Zimbabwe,that ended up with a three wicket win for Bangladesh in Harare. It clinched the series for the visitors in a contest that was closer than it looked on TV due to the lack of fans at the Harare Sports Club.