BIRMINGHAM: England beat Pakistan by 23 runs in the second T20 international on Saturday on the back of skipper Jos Buttler’s blistering knock of 84 at Edgbaston to move 1-0 up in the four-match T20 series.

Buttler was the star of the England batting with three sixes and eight fours as the hosts posted a total of 183-7.

The tourists were bowled out with four balls to spare as Jofra Archer claimed two wickets on his long-awaited return to international cricket, doing his case for selection in next month’s T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies no harm.

The fast bowler has been beset by elbow injuries since his starring role in helping England win the 50-over World Cup in 2019.

On his first international appearance for 14 months, and first on home soil since 2020, Archer bounced back from an expensive first over, which went for 15 runs, to finish with 2-28.

“I thought there were some great performances from everybody,” said Buttler. “You always want to be playing well. I feel like I’m hitting the ball well, which is great.”

“I thought he was brilliant,” he said of Archer. “You can see the emotion, taking wickets again, is fantastic. He’s not just going to be the Jofra Archer of old straight away, but a really positive performance. It’s absolutely trying to get overs into Jofra but looking after him as well. I thought the whole bowling group was brilliant.”

Pakistan won the toss and opted to field but Buttler took advantage of a good batting wicket and smashed 84 runs off 51 balls.

The 33-year-old opener brought up his fifty with his trademark premeditated scoop, directing an attempted yorker from fast bowler Haris Rauf over fine leg.

Buttler was supported by Will Jacks (37) and Jonny Bairstow (21) but England failed to build on the platform given to them by their skipper.

Five wickets fell for just 25 runs as Pakistan battled back with Shaheen Shah Afridi the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-36, before Archer walked to the crease in the final over and smashed Mohammad Amir for a four and a six.

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 Babar lbw. Fakhar 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.

Archer got his first wickets on his return when he had both Azam Khan and Imad caught in the covers while Reece Topley took three wickets for 41.

“It was a par score,” rued Babar after the match. “I think our bowlers bowled very well. Our batting had moments but we were not close to finishing well. If someone scored 40 or 50 then I think we’d have definitely have won this game.

“Mostly we are flexible and everyone knows their role. Before the series we decided to go with these roles, so we’re clear. The way Fakhar dominated after the early wickets fell. I think if me and Fakhar had batted for four or five more overs, then we could have won.”

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.

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND:

P. Salt c Shaheen b Imad 13

J. Buttler c Shadab b Haris 84

W. Jacks c Shadab b Haris 37

J. Bairstow c Iftikhar b Shaheen 21

H. Brook b Imad 1

M. Ali c Rizwan b Shaheen 4

L. Livingstone not out 2

C. Jordan c Haris b Shaheen 3

J. Archer not out 12

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-1) 6

TOTAL (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 183

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-25 (Salt), 2-96 (Jacks), 3-144 (Bairstow), 4-147 (Brook), 5-164 (Buttler), 6-165 (Ali), 7-169 (Jordan)

DID NOT BAT: A. Rashid, R. Topley

BOWLING: Shaheen 4-0-36-3 (1w), Amir 4-0-34-0, Imad 4-0-19-2, Haris 4-0-34-2, Shadab 4-0-55-0

PAKISTAN:

Mohammad Rizwan c Livingstone b Ali 0

Saim Ayub c Salt b Topley 2

Babar Azam lbw Ali 32

Fakhar Zaman c Brook b Livingstone 45

Shadab Khan c Jordan b Rashid 3

Azam Khan c Ali b Archer 11

Iftikhar Ahmed c Jordan b Topley 23

Imad Wasim c Livingstone b Archer 22

Shaheen Afridi c Salt b Topley 9

Mohammad Amir b Jordan 5

Haris Rauf not out 3

EXTRAS (NB-1, W-4) 5

TOTAL (all out, 19.2 overs) 160

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Rizwan), 2-14 (Saim), 3-67 (Babar), 4-78 (Shadab), 5-91 (Azam), 6-100 (Fakhar), 7-140 (Iftikhar), 8-147 (Imad), 9-154 (Amir) BOWLING: Ali 4-0-26-2, Topley 3.2-0-41-3 (1w), Archer 4-0-28-2, Jordan 4-0-31-1 (1w, 1nb), Rashid 3-0-25-1 (1w), Livingstone 1-0-9-1 (1w)

RESULT: England won by 23 runs.

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Jos Buttler

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2024