SHARJAH: Paceman Chris Woakes starred for a second match in succession as he defended 10 runs in the last over to help England win the third and final Twenty20 in a Super Over finish in Sharjah on Monday.

Woakes conceded seven off the first two deliveries thanks to a six but managed to tie the game off the last ball as Pakistan faltered in the chase of a 155-run target.

Pakistan then managed just three runs in the Super Over bowled by Chris Jordan, which England beat off just four balls for a 3-0 clean sweep of the series.

The victory lifted England to fourth in the Twenty20 rankings while Pakistan, second before the series, fell to sixth.

England won the first match by 14 runs and the second by three runs with Woakes defending 11 in the last over — both matches in Dubai.

Pakistan was unlucky not to win the match after Shoaib Malik smashed a career best 54-ball 75 for his fourth Twenty20 half century and added a quick-fire 63 off just 38 balls for the sixth wicket with Shahid Afridi, who made a 20-ball 29.

Earlier, James Vince hit a career-best 46 and Woakes (37) lifted England — who won the toss and batted — from a precarious 86-6 during their fighting 60-run stand for the seventh wicket to take them to 154-8.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015