Reigning champions England produced a tremendous all-round show as they beat Pakistan by seven wickets at The Oval on Thursday of their final aggressive match earlier than they start the defence of their Twenty20 World Cup title. England restricted Pakistan to a modest 157 after profitable the toss, with leg-spinner Adil Rashid, the player-of-the-match taking 2-27 from his most 4 overs. They then made a speedy begin to their chase as Phil Salt (45) and skipper Jos Buttler (39) shared a blistering opening stand of 82 inside seven overs. Harry Brook ended the sport with a six off paceman Haris Rauf, the choose of the Pakistan assault with 3-38, as England completed on 158-6 to win with greater than three overs to spare.
Victory gave England a 2-0 triumph in a four-match T20 sequence the place video games at Headingley and Cardiff had been each washed out and not using a ball bowled.
“We have now labored arduous in coaching and there’s a good feeling across the squad,” Buttler instructed Sky Sports activities.
Buttler was main England after his spouse gave start to the couple’s third little one following his dashing 84 within the hosts’ 23-run win within the second T20 at Edgbaston.
“It could have been good to get two extra video games in to show just a few guys to totally different conditions,” Buttler added.
“However we’ve got actually good expertise within the group and numerous guys have been taking part in within the IPL (Indian Premier League), so we aren’t wanting cricket.”
Each England openers launched Naseem Shah for large sixes earlier than Salt holed out off Rauf for a quickfire 45.
Earlier, Pakistan had been well-placed at 59-0 after shedding the toss at an overcast Oval.
However they slumped to 86-5, the collapse beginning when captain Babar Azam was caught at slip for a brisk 36 off quick bowler Jofra Archer.
“It went properly for 5 or 6 overs however then I received out,” mentioned Azam. “The center order must step up.
“We have to type out these issues for the World Cup. We have now just a few accidents however there are numerous positives. Our play is sweet in patches.”
Pakistan had been additionally undone by a disciplined England assault, with Rashid telling reporters: “As a unit I assumed we bowled exceptionally properly. I do know they (Pakistan) received off to a fantastic begin, however that is T20 cricket.”
Rashid was additionally enthused by the sight of injury-prone quicks Archer and Mark Wooden, who took wickets with sharp bouncers, bowling in tandem.
“Jof and Woody, once you watch them bowl it’s thrilling,” he mentioned.
“Seeing the ball zip off the pitch, the keeper taking it actually excessive and it is thrilling to have two high quality, world-class bowlers in our squad.”
England launch their T20 World Cup marketing campaign towards Scotland in Barbados on June 4, with 2009 champions Pakistan in motion two days later towards co-hosts the US in Dallas.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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