Hits, misses and shocks: Richard Hobson’s awards from England’s summer

Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif smashed England’s bowlers all around the park as Pakistan ended its long all-format tour of the United Kingdom in style with a nine-wicket win at a packed Old Trafford in the lone Twenty20 global on Wednesday (September 7).

England’s struggles to tee-off hinted at a pitch that was becoming increasingly tricky to score on, a theory that looked less sound when Pakistan’s openers, Sharjeel and Khalid, emerged in a blizzard of boundaries that brought 74 runs from their first six overs, with 14 fours and one six.

It wasn’t until Imad had removed England’s openers, both out trying to hit across the ball rather than through it, that their ploy found favour, the allowance of an extra men in the deep frustrating England into giving up their wickets.

Unfortunately for the tourists, most of that batting line-up that destroyed them five times in a row will return for the T20, with Alex Hales, Jos Buttler and skipper Eoin Morgan headlining affairs.

Pakistan’s Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif shared a destructive opening partnership of 107 off 11 overs. Sharjeel has threatened this all tour, with the short-armed flick used in the one-dayers to ruin Stokes’ first over since his manhandling by Carlos Brathwaite in Kolkata earlier in the year, before Adil Rashid was twice hoisted into the night sky as Sharjeel reached a 30-ball half-century.

By then Pakistan were so far ahead of the rate that no risks were necessary – the 100-stand coming up off 9.3 overs with a single down the ground.

Left-arm quick Riaz followed up with three for 18 as England, fielding the same side beaten in the last over of April s World Twenty20 final, managed just a solitary boundary in the concluding 10 overs of their innings.

Pakistan’s win under the Old Trafford floodlights was set up by a disciplined display in the field after England were well-placed at 56 without loss. “But none of us seemed to catch fire or get going”. Meanwhile, the bowling unit of England will be led by the trio of Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett and Tymal Mills.

The momentum appeared to all be with Pakistan as a combination of pace off the ball and deliveries bowled into the hard surface meant England were frustrated as they attempted to set another daunting total.

“We had to play positive cricket and the morale is very high after we won the last game on tour”. “We didn’t show urgency with our running between the wickets”, the Australian coach said.

Pakistan finished on 139 for one with 31 balls to spare as they gave Sarfraz Ahmed a win in his first match as Twenty20 captain.

Coaches always stress the need for players to think on their feet but England did not even try to counter with anything different.

Pakistani side were also at top of their game with the ball. Rashid was the lone England bowler to take a wicket.