Twitter Reactions: Eoin Morgan, Dawid Malan shine in England's record-chase at Manchester
Skipper Morgan’s 33-ball 66 combined with Malan’s 54 off 36 proved to be a double whammy for the men-in-green.
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Well, it was some outing in Manchester for Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan. The wash-out of the previous game was followed by another wash-out. Just that it was of the bowlers this time around! Much to the fortune of those watching the game- of course, on television- there were no weather-based interruptions. However, what seems to have been interrupted is the tempo of Pakistan’s bowling lineup after the previous game.
Skipper Eoin Morgan’s decision to opt to field appeared a mistake, at least until they came out to bat. Babar Azam played a watchful knock of 56 including 7 fours as Morgan used four bowlers in the powerplay to create problems. Although Fakhar Zaman and Azam ensured to find boundaries at regular intervals in a bid to provide their team, a solid foundation. And they did so by adding 72 for the first wicket before Zaman towered Adil Rashid to long-on where Banton pouched it with ease.
Mohammad Hafeez registered a half-century and played with great authority over the bowlers. Saqib Mahmood and Tom Curran messed up their lengths to make matters worse for England as Hafeez entered into a couple of commanding partnerships with Azam and Shoiab Malik before Pakistan finished just an inch shorter than 200.
Scintillating start from England
Though Tom Banton was not around whom things revolved in this game, he ensured alongside Jonny Bairstow- who failed in the previous game- to take his team off to a flying start. The openers wobbled for a while during the initial overs and were not in complete control. Although once acclimatized with the lines of Shaheen Afridi and Imad Wasim, they both stroked with fluency, especially Bairstow who almost immediately got flowing after he lap-swept Imad Wasim in the third over.
He welcomed Mohammad Amir- who struggled with his hamstring and looked in visible discomfort- warmly with a four and a six while Banton kept rotating the strike. The duo added 66 for the first wicket making things easy for Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan before Shadab Khan struck on two successive deliveries to dismiss both of them.
Eoin Morgan’s pyrotechnics and Malan’s counter-attack
Eoin Morgan’s 33-ball 66 combined with Malan’s 54 off 36 proved to be a double whammy for the men-in-green. Morgan upset the rhythm of every bowler with equal poise while Malan played his tunes at the other end. Their collective efforts resulted to dwarf Pakistan’s highest ever T20I score against England as well as saw England hunt down the highest successful chase against Pakistan.
Morgan did look shoddy at the start and he must have had his heart in his mouth when Shadab Khan’s confident appeal for LBW was reviewed. He survived a close shave on the basis of umpire’s call on impact. After that, the Dubliner never looked like looking back.
His innings included a slew of eye-catching strokes as he lofted, swiveled, drove, and slog-swept while slamming 6 fours and 4 sixes during his 112-run alliance with Malan- who was happy to give his captain the majority part. In the process, however, he also played his strokes freely and finally did well to evade his reputation of playing slow.
At the stroke of taking an unassailable lead of 1-0, England did stutter a bit as Haris Rauf ended Eoin Morgan’s run and that was followed by Moeen Ali’s dismissal, however, Sam Billings slapped two boundaries before perishing as Malan hit the winning runs.
Here are the best tweets:
What a chase by @englandcricket. So good to watch the highlights tonight. What a unbelievably talented set of white ball players we have in that squad. And other main players still missing and the likes of @PhilSalt1 still to come. England will be strong for years.
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) August 30, 2020
Mohammad Hafeez last 9 innings in T20Is.
3 innings were versus Australia, 3 versus N Zealand, 2 versus Bangladesh & 1 versus England)Runs 396
Fifties 3
Average 79.20
Strike-rate 143.35#Cricket— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 30, 2020
2 left-handers at the crease – number of deliveries bowled so far by Mohammad Hafeez = 0#ENGvPAK
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 30, 2020
The run-chase of 199-5 by England today is the highest succesful run chase against Pakistan in a T20I #ENGvPAK
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 30, 2020
In a game where the overall run-rate was 10.10, Babar Azam batted 44 balls for a run-rate of 7.64. He surely is a great batsman but if he improves his SR it can give Pakistan extra 10-20 runs in every match. Having said that bowlers should have defended 195. #EngvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 30, 2020
Haider Ali hit 14 sixes in this year's PSL and Khushdil Shah 10. Both are sort of players who can solve Pakistan's long-standing power-hitting issues. With two T20 World Cups coming up, Pakistan need to invest in such players and make them play. #EngvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 30, 2020
Me in assembly everyday: pic.twitter.com/GihcRwlHUm
— Manya (@CSKian716) August 30, 2020
Pakistan have ignored three of the most exciting batting developments from the PSL. Haider Ali – not picked, Khushdil Shah – not picked, Shadab Khan – not promoted up the order after succeeding in the role for Islamabad. #ENGvPAK
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) August 30, 2020
Babar Azam has reached his 14th T20I fifty 🎉
A superb knock so far from the 🇵🇰 captain 👏 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/bxrzNRFOTs
— ICC (@ICC) August 30, 2020
The Sarfaraz Ahmed yawn is back #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/rHGpODttAx
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 30, 2020
Wasim Akram "The head in his hands wasn’t the best sign from the coach. OK the team and the bowlers are getting hammered but body language is so important for any coach. It doesn’t matter what the situation is, it’s his job to be positive. At least look positive" #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/ruQL7JQvbN
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 30, 2020
Pakistani fans will always find a way to support their team. These fans are standing outside Old Trafford at a nearby tram stop #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/FFln5oPhB8
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 30, 2020
#ENGvPAK When someone says that Pakistan's bowling is the best. 😂 pic.twitter.com/A4ap7NuElO
— Dhärméndra (@officialdharmen) August 30, 2020
The Real Professor @MHafeez22 #ENGvPAK #cricket pic.twitter.com/axeMXAtszq
— Shahbaz Waraich (@WaraichShahbaz) August 30, 2020
Night all .. Was good to be apart of this crew Live on bbcone today .. hope you enjoyed it .. this England team are well worth watching .. #ENGvPAK .. @ Emirates Old Trafford https://t.co/oO4c9UCmBy
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 30, 2020
Congratulations @MHafeez22 pic.twitter.com/TOQPHUBY8r
— Nazia Hafeez (@naziahafeez8) August 30, 2020
Bad luck Team Pakistan 🇵🇰….Good performance by @babarazam258 @FakharZamanLive and @MHafeez22..Congratulations Team England 🏴 what aninnings by @dmalan29 @jbairstow21 and Captain knock by legend @Eoin16 Good luck Team Pakistan for 3rd T20..Cheer up Team Pakistan #PakvsEng
— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) August 30, 2020
Incredible chase for England … @Eoin16 is some leader & player … Good fun calling the game on @BBCOne … Till next time … #OnOn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 30, 2020
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