.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp "England vs Pakistan LIVE: T20 cricket score and updates from National Stadium Karachi")
England practice for the 1st T20 match against Pakistan in Karachi
It has been 17 years since England last toured Pakistan with various series being cancelled during that time for security reasons and concerns over players physical and mental health. Just last year the ECB pulled out of touring the country – citing security reasons – causing Pakistan Cricket Board chair Ramiz Raja to call them out for failing to help a ‘member of their cricket fraternity.’ The year previously Pakistan had toured England in bio-secured bubbles, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, to help ease the financial burden on the ECB.
That England should fail to reciprocate such an endeavour did not sit well with the PCB but negotiations were rekindled and a new tour was planned. Originally England would play two T20 men’s and women’s doubleheaders with the women’s team staying on for three ODIs but that has changed into a seven-match men’s-only T20I series with the first game being played today ahead of the T20 World Cup in Oct/Nov.
According to captain Jos Buttler, England have also donated a five-figure sum to the Disasters Emergency Committee to help the areas of Pakistan devastated by recent floods. Buttler himself is sitting out the first part of the tour due to calf injury and Moeen Ali will lead the team. This series is set to be exciting, historic and should provide both sides with strong preparation for next month’s World Cup.
Follow the action as Pakistan host England for the first time in 17 years:
Pakistan 104-1 (12), Rizwan 64, Haider 8, Rashid 1-22 (3)
Six! The release shot does come bu Mohammad Rizwan nails it over cow corner and clears the ropes. That’s a big hit from the Pakistan opener.
Two runs come from the rest of the over and the hundred is up for the hosts.
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:28
Pakistan 96-1 (11.3), Rizwan 57, Haider 7, Rashid 1-14 (2.3)
More singles for Pakistan and more tight bowling from Adil Rashid. There’s going to be a release shot soon, England’s boundary riders need to be ready for a potential catch.
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:26
Pakistan 93-1 (11), Rizwan 56, Haider 5, Gleeson 0-13 (2)
Just the six singles off Gleeson’s second over which is good going from the pace bowler. Nine over to go for Pakistan, when will they start to properly unleash.
They’ll be target 180-190 from here with nine wickets in hand surely.
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:24
Pakistan 90-1 (10.3), Rizwan 55, Haider 3, Gleeson 0-10 (1.3)
Richard Gleeson is back into the attack and gets worked into the legside for one by Mohammad Rizwan.
Haider Ali flat bats one to mid-on for another single before Rizwan whips a pull shot off the front foot to backward square leg. There’s a fielder there though and it’s only a single.
Good start from Gleeson on his return.
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:22
Pakistan 87-1 (10), Rizwan 53, Haider 2, Rashid 1-11 (2)
Haider Ali is the new batter for Pakistan and gets off the mark with a couple of runs through cover.
At the halfway point of the innings Pakistan are 87-1 with the momentum hanging in the balance. Two quick wickets for England could sway it their way.
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:17
Wicket! Babar Azam, 31(24) b. Rashid, Pakistan 85-1 (9.3)
There’s the breakthrough for England! Adil Rashid sends down a googly that spins back in towards Babar Azam who doesn’t pick it. He’s pinned on the back foot and the ball goes through the gate and bowls him!
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:15
Pakistan 81-0 (8.5), Rizwan 51, Babar 29, Moeen 0-11 (0.5)
Boom! Mohammad Rizwan brings up his 17th fifty in T20Is with a brilliant stroke down the ground for six! It’s the first maximum of the innings and Rizwan is well set now.
(Getty Images)
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:12
Pakistan 74-0 (8.3), Rizwan 45, Babar 28, Moeen 0-4 (0.3)
Moeen Ali brings himself on now and decides to come around the wicket to the right-handers with a set back leg-side field.
Pakistan continue to milk the spinners and pick up four runs from the first three deliveries of Moeen’s over.
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:10
Pakistan 70-0 (8), Rizwan 42, Babar 27, Rashid 0-7 (1)
Rizwan looks to sweep Rashid away from the last ball of the over but gets a thick top edge on the ball and dinks it over wicketkeeper Phil Salt.
Richard Gleeson chases it down to the boundary rope and limits Pakistan to a couple.
Seven runs from the over.
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:08
Pakistan 66-0 (7.3), Rizwan 39, Babar 26, Rashid 0-3 (0.3)
This is a key passage of play now as Moeen Ali turns to the legspinner Adil Rashid. The pitch is fairly flat with nothing helping out the quicks but can Rashid draw some turn out of it?
It’s a good start from Rashid with two singles, a wide and a dot ball coming from his first three (legal) deliveries.
Michael Jones20 September 2022 16:06