NEW DELHI: England defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in the second T20 international at Edgbaston on Saturday, thanks to a stunning innings from captain
Jos Buttler
, who scored 84 runs.
After Pakistan won the toss and chose to field, Buttler capitalized on the favorable batting conditions. He scored 84 off 51 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes.
The 33-year-old opener reached his half-century with his signature premeditated scoop shot, sending a yorker from fast bowler Haris Rauf over fine leg.
Buttler received support from Will Jacks, who scored 37, and Jonny Bairstow, who added 21. Despite a middle-order collapse,
Jofra Archer
stepped up in the final over, hitting Mohammad Amir for a four and a six, helping England to a total of 183-7.
Pakistan lost Mohammad Rizwan for a duck in the first over when
Moeen Ali
had him caught and his opening partner Saim Ayub holed out in the deep to leave the tourists reeling at 14-2.
Fakhar Zaman and skipper
Babar Azam
(32) scored freely to stitch together a 53-run stand off 28 balls but Moeen struck again to dismiss Azam lbw. Zaman fell for a well-made 45 off 21 balls to leave Pakistan at 100-6.
Iftikhar Ahmed (23) and Imad Wasim (22) provided resistance but the target proved to be out of reach for Pakistan's tail as they were dismissed for 160.
England's Archer (2-28) got his first wickets after 14 months on the sidelines due to an elbow injury when he had both Azam Khan and Wasim caught in the covers.
The first match of the four-game series was washed out without a ball bowled. The next two games will be played on Tuesday and Thursday before England travel to the United States and West Indies to defend their T20 World Cup title.
(With Reuters inputs)
English (US) ·