09 September,2016 08:29 AM IST | | AFP
New Twenty20 captain Sarfraz Ahmed was delighted to end the England tour on a 'high note' on Wednesday erasing memories of the damaging spot-fixing controversy of their last visit six years ago
Pakistan's Sharjeel Khan, (centre) celebrates his half century against England at Old Trafford, in Manchester on Wednesday. Pic/AP, PTI
Pakistan's Sharjeel Khan, (centre) celebrates his half century against England at Old Trafford, in Manchester on Wednesday. Pic/AP, PTI
Manchester: New Twenty20 captain Sarfraz Ahmed was delighted to end the England tour on a 'high note' on Wednesday erasing memories of the damaging spot-fixing controversy of their last visit six years ago.
Pakistan inflicted a crushing nine-wicket win over England at Old Trafford on Wednesday in Ahmed's first match in charge of the Twenty20 side and the final match of their tour.
Fresh from Sunday's four-wicket victory in Cardiff, where Ahmed made 90 as Pakistan avoided a one-day series whitewash, the tourists held England to 135 for seven in their 20 overs.
Bowlers lay foundation
Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim removed both England openers before fast bowler Wahab Riaz took a Twenty20-best three for 18. Openers Sharjeel Khan (59) and Khalid Latif (59 not out) then shared a blistering century stand as Pakistan won with 31 balls to spare.
"Credit to our bowlers ... and then Khalid and Sharjeel played really well," said Ahmed. "After we won the match in Cardiff, the morale was very high when we arrived here," he added.
Pakistan's conduct, as well as their cricket, helped restore their reputation in English cricket circles following the spot-fixing controversy that blighted their last visit six years ago. "The whole tour was very good, our Test cricket was very good. We wanted to finish on a high note and we did," said Ahmed.
Beaten England captain Eoin Morgan blamed a rapid change in conditions for a crushing loss. England managed just one boundary in their last 10 overs, whereas Sharjeel and Latif struck 14 fours and a six in the first five overs of Pakistan's reply. But Morgan said evening dew had made the new ball come on to the bat nicely at the start of Pakistan's chase, even though there was a gap of just 10 minutes between innings.
Brief scores
England 135-7 in 20 overs (A Hales 37; W Riaz 3-18, I Wasim 2-17) lost to Pakistan 2-17) lost to Pakistan 139-1 in 14.5 overs (S Khan 59, K Latif 59) by nine wickets
