Haider Ali, making his debut, hammers a huge six over mid-wicket with only his second ball in international cricket as Pakistan face England in the third and final T20.
England have been set 191 to seal a sixth Twenty20 international series victory in a row after fifties from teenage Pakistan debutant Haider Ali and veteran Mohammad Hafeez at Emirates Old Trafford.
Pressed into action against an unchanged England – leading 1-0 in the series – Haider, 19, marked his international bow with a terrific 54 from 33 balls to underline his reputation as one of his country’s brightest prospects.
Hafeez, 20 years Haider’s senior, registered his second consecutive half-century and finished on 86 not out – equalling his career-best for Pakistan in this format – as the tourists finished on 190 for four.
England’s bowlers were occasionally guilty of feeding the leg-side habits of Pakistan’s star duo, who exploited the shorter boundary on a fresh pitch, where Chris Jordan was the pick of the bowlers with two for 29 after the hosts had won the toss in this third and final T20.
England have recently struggled to take wickets in the powerplay but Moeen Ali made the breakthrough in the second over, his first ball skidding on to castle Fakhar Zaman. Later in the over, Haider clubbed his second ball for six.
Babar Azam took three successive fours off Saqib Mahmood, showing his power for the first two before a delicate dab down to the third man boundary but the Pakistan captain went for 21 after missing a flat-footed drive at Tom Curran.
Haider showed his quick wrists off Curran and Jordan either side of an inside edge for another four off the latter to lead the Pakistan recovery as the tourists reached 47 for two after six overs.
