CARDIFF – An unbeaten half-century from England captain Eoin Morgan and a brilliant T20I debut for Jofra Archer ensured England overcame Pakistan by seven wickets in Cardiff.
Archer took 2/29 as England restricted their opponents to 173/6, the newly qualified Englishman dismissing both of Pakistan’s set batsmen in the same over. Morgan’s 29-ball 57* then shepherded his side to victory over the MRF Tyres No.1 ranked side in the format, with a crunching straight six securing the match in the final over.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman (7) early to a stunning Morgan catch, and No.3 Imam Ul-Haq (7) became Archer’s first victim in T20Is in the fifth over, edging a wicked bouncer behind to Archer’s fellow debutant Ben Foakes.
MRF Tyres No.1 ranked T20I batsman Babar Azam then began to find a lovely rhythm alongside new batter Haris Sohail, the pair adding 101 for the fourth wicket. Babar brought up his half-century by hitting consecutive sixes off Joe Denly (0/15), who was hauled off after his over and not brought back into the attack.
Haris (50) notched his maiden T20I fifty before departing shortly afterwards, just as Pakistan’s accumulation of runs was beginning to put England under real pressure. Archer’s return catalysed an impressive middle-over comeback from the home side, having Haris caught on the midwicket boundary before running out Babar (65) with a sharp effort at the non-strikers end two balls later.
