4th T20I, Karachi, September 25, 2022, 08:00 PM
Pakistan
166/4(20.0ov)
England
163/10(19.2ov)
Pakistan beat England by 3 runs
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Haris Rauf
Commentry
That's it from the Karachi leg. We now move to Lahore for the remaining games of the series. The 5th T20I is on 28th September (Wednesday) at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT), but you can join us in advance for the build-up. Until then, it's goodbye and cheers!
Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, starts by saying that the way they started with the bat, they were 10-15 runs short. He praises the cameo of Asif Ali and then the efforts of the bowling group. Mentions that they keep the middle order flexible. Regarding Haris Rauf's bowling, Babar replies that he is getting better day by day and calls him the leading bowler of Pakistan.
Moeen Ali, the captain of England, says that it was an amazing game of cricket and it kept swinging both ways. Adds that they should have chased it down but they lost a lot of wickets in the Powerplay. Praises Liam Dawson for his knock and tells that he had a brilliant all-round game. Feels that they should have won with 9 runs needed off 12 balls but credits Pakistan for getting over the line.
Haris Rauf (4-0-32-3) is the Player of the Match. The speedster says that this win will give confidence to the team. Shares that his plan was not to give up and pick the wickets in the penultimate over. Mentions that you need to handle pressure in international cricket and he tries to give his best.
Stay tuned for the presentation...
Earlier in the evening, Pakistan batted well in the first half but lacked the killer instinct in the last 10 overs. As a result, they ended with a below-par total. But the bowling efforts of Mohammad Nawaz and Haris Rauf earned them a series-levelling win. If we leave alone Hasnain's last over, he too was very impressive.
England were at the door of victory but Haris Rauf closed it on their face with an exceptional penultimate over. He removed Liam Dawson and Olly Stone off consecutive deliveries and conceded only 5 runs. With 4 needed off the last over and one wicket in hand, the visitors were dragged away from the winning line after getting so close. A very pleasing win for the home team as they kept fighting till the end.
The chase was full of twists and turns. Pakistan pegged back England in the Powerplay but Harry Brook stitched a couple of stands, one with Ben Duckett and another with Moeen Ali to keep the touring team in the game. When he departed, England needed 54 off 34 balls and the writing appeared to be on the wall. But when you bat deep, you always have that extra arrow in your quiver to target the enemy. Brook gone, Moeen gone, Willey gone, no issues. Liam Dawson flexed his muscles with a handy cameo to take this game deep. He targeted the 18th over bowled by Mohammad Hasnain and amassed 24 runs from it to bring down the equation to 9 off 12 balls.
Phew! What a thriller! Pakistan have crossed the line eventually much to the delight of the capacity crowd. Finally, we got a close match and this win for the home team has levelled the series 2-2.
In over# 20
0W
0
Mohammad Wasim 30/1(3.2)
19.2
W
OUT! RUN OUT! The bails lit-up and so does the crowd! A stunning comeback from Pakistan. It is a length ball, on off. Reece Topley stays back and defends it towards short mid-wicket. He takes off towards the other end. Shan Masood is quick to get to the ball, he dives forward and under-arms the ball at the non-striker's end to score a direct hit. Pakistan know they have got their man. The replays later confirm that Reece Topley is miles away from the crease. The big screen shows out. PAKISTAN WIN THE GAME BY 3 RUNS.
19.1
.
Good length, on off. Reece Topley defends it solidly towards covers. Adil Rashid ventures out looking for a single but he is sent back and rightly so.
Mohammad Wasim to bowl the final over. 4 needed off 6 balls.
In over# 19
0
1lb
0W
0W
4
0
Haris Rauf 32/3(4)
18.6
.
A length ball, outside off. Adil Rashid looks to drive it away but misses. It zips past the outside edge.
18.5
1lb
NOT OUT! A rip-roaring yorker, toe-crusher around leg, Reece Topley fails to dig it out and is hit on the back leg. They appeal but nothing from the umpire. Babar takes the referral. Ball Tracking finds that it has pitched outside leg.
Appeal for an lbw, not given. Haris Rauf convinces his skipper to take the referral. Pitching outside leg! No hat-trick for Rauf.
Reece Topley is the number 11 batter. Rauf on a hat-trick.
18.4
W
OUT! SOUND OF TIMBER! Haris Rauf comes up with a rocket and has picked two in two. Hurls across a length ball, around off, skidding off the surface, Stone stands there like a stone, trying to keep it out but is beaten for excess pace. The stumps are disturbed. The entire stadium erupts in joy.