Sharjeel, Khalid secure Pakistan 9-wicket win over England
Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif scored quickfire half-centuries as Pakistan defeated England by nine wickets in the only Twenty20 International (T20I) at Old Trafford, Manchester, late on Wednesday.
It was a boundary-galore as the pair registered a 107-run opening stand hitting 17 boundaries in the first 10 overs.
The ball crossed the boundary rope 22 times in total.
The two came out all guns blazing as the opening duo struck record 73 runs in the powerplay overs — overshadowing Pakistan's previous best of 72 against Zimbabwe.
Sharjeel, who registered his second T20I half-century with a towering six over cow corner off Adil Rashid, fell in the 12th over as he tried a cross-bat heave off the leg-spinner.
The left-handed batsman struck seven fours and three sixes in his 36-ball 59.
On the other hand, Khalid continued the onslaught and went on to score his maiden fifty of the format with a six over mid-wicket.
He remained unbeaten on 59 from 42 balls. The 30-year-old hit 10 boundaries — eight fours and two sixes.
Earlier, in what was a disciplined show by Pakistan bowlers, that restricted England to 135 for seven in 20 overs. Half of England's batting line-up was back in the pavilion by the end of the 15th over as the hosts were 105 for five.
Left-arm orthodox Imad Wasim dismissed both England openers — Jason Roy and Alex Hales — to reduce England to two down for 67 in nine overs during the ongoing one-off Twenty20 International (T20I) against Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Roy, who struck two fours and a towering six — off Sohail Tanvir — in his 20-ball 21, fell during the seventh over after he accumulated 56 runs along Hales for the first wicket on Wednesday.
Going for a reverse sweep off Imad Wasim, Roy was given LBW when the left-arm orthodox's straighter delivery crashed into the batter's pads.
Starting the proceedings quietly, the openers turned screws on the Pakistani bowlers during the third over.
Left-arm fast-bowler Mohammad Amir was welcomed with a pull-shot by Roy that crashed into the mid-wicket boundary in the third over of the innings when England were eight without a loss.
The two batsmen piled up 41 runs in the next 23 balls.