Twitter Reaction: Pakistan upset England in yet another nail-biting thriller

Pakistan takes the lead in the seven-match series against England with two games remaining.

By Chaitanya Prakash

Updated - 29 Sept 2022, 00:05 IST

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The fifth T20I between Pakistan and England produced another dramatic encounter as the hosts prevailed in a nail-biting contest to go 3-2 up in the seven-match series. Pakistan won the game by five runs as their bowlers once again came up trumps in a crucial match. Moeen Ali's sizzling half-century went in vain as the visitors suffered their second successive defeat in the series.

England won the toss, and skipper Moeen Ali decided to bowl first on a sluggish surface at Lahore. The Pakistani opening pair, who has been the thorn in the English bowler's flesh, could not replicate their heroics from the previous encounter as skipper Babar Azam was dismissed by a fiery bouncer from the returning Mark Wood.

Meanwhile, his opening partner, Mohamamd Rizwan prolonged his purple patch in T20Is, scoring another invaluable half-century at the top of the order. But the prolific wicketkeeper-batter did not receive much support from the others, playing a lone hand for the Men in Green.

Apart from Rizwan, only two other batters, Iftikhar Ahmed and Aamer Jamal managed to reach double figures in the match for the hosts. Pakistan managed to reach a competitive target of 145 runs in their 20 overs thanks to Rizwan's 63 off 46 deliveries. Mark Wood was the pick of the English bowlers, with three wickets to his name, while David Willey and Sam Curran contributed with two scalps each. 

Moeen Ali nearly pulled off a dramatic heist for the visitors

Defending a par total, the Pakistani bowlers made a dream start, dismissing Alex Hales for a solitary run in the first over, before Philip Salt followed his opening partner in the fourth over for another low score in the series. Ben Duckett and Harry Brook, who have been two of the best performing batters in the series, could not contribute this time around as England's chase stuttered at 54/4.

The crucial blow to England's chances arrived in the 12th over, when Dawid Malan, who had dropped anchor, was dismissed for a gritty 36 off 35 deliveries. The match was heading towards a tame end after the dismissal of the hard-hitting Sam Curran in the 15th over, but Moeen Ali provided a sting in the tail with some lusty blows.

Ali kept the visitors in the hunt with his quickfire innings, and with 15 needed off the final over, there was a glimmer of hope for England. But the debutant Aamer Jamal, who picked his maiden T20I wicket on just his second delivery in international cricket, kept his nerve to seal another thrilling victory for the hosts.

Here is how Twitter reacted to another last over thriller between the two sides:

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