England LOSE thrilling first T20 encounter against Pakistan despite Liam Livingstone’s brutal batting masterclass after visitors set record score thanks to captain Babar Azam
England lost the first T20 match of their series against Pakistan in a thrilling encounter that saw Liam Livingstone score the home side’s fastest-ever century in the format.
Pakistan scored their highest ever total in T20 cricket, smashing 232 for the loss of six wickets. Captain Babar Azam led his team by example, scoring 85 off 49 balls, though he was ably supported by Mohammad Rizwan.
Down the order, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammaed Hafeez put on a thundering show to set England a mammoth 233 to win.
England have lost the first T20 match against Pakistan at Trent Bridge, falling 31 runs short
Liam Livingstone hit England’s fastest ever T20 100 off just 42 balls but it wasn’t enough
Pakistan captain Babar Azam got his team off to a strong start, hitting 50 runs off just 35 balls
Azam eventually lost his wicket to England pace bowler David Willey (right), caught behind
Their batting effort got off to a rocky start with Dawid Malan out for one. But Jason Roy powerfully took the fight to Pakistan’s bowling attack, blasting boundaries around Trent Bridge.
Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali fell cheaply before Livingstone made his entrance, brutally scything Pakistan’s bowlers to the boundary. He scored England’s fastest T20 50 off just 17 balls.
Livingstone held England’s innings together as wickets fell around him, with captain Eoin Morgan and Lewis Gregory scoring just 16 and 10 respectively.
David Willey attempted a rear-guard action, but when he was caught on the boundary for 16, it left England too much to do in the end.
Mohammed Hafeez hit a fabulous rear-guard action, helping Pakistan to a mammoth 232 runs
Tom Curran (right) was the pick of England’s bowlers and picked up two wickets in the match
England’s batting started badly when Dawid Malan was caught and bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi for just one run
Opener Jason Roy took the fight straight back to Pakistan, smashing several huge sixes
Moeen Ali also fell cheaply, caught by Haris Rauf (left) who then collided with his team-mate
Livingstone blasted England’s fastest 50 in T20, coming off just 17 balls with five huge sixes
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