All-rounder hammers unbeaten 46 from just 18 balls to lead his side to four-wicket win over England with an over to spare
Honours even in two-match series
High-quality audio clips of post-match media conferences available
An awesome display of power hitting by Pakistan all-rounder Abdur Razzaq won a game for his side that seemed all but lost at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday night.
Razzaq made an unbeaten 46 from just 18 balls faced including five sixes and his innings ensured Pakistan beat England by four wickets with an over in hand.
The victory meant the two-match WorldCall T-20 Challenge presented by Bank Alfalah finished all square at 1-1.
Pakistan looked dead and buried when Razzaq came to the crease with his side 78-5 and requiring 71 from the final seven overs after England scored 148-6, thanks in large measure to 62 from 40 balls from Kevin Pietersen.
But Razzaq's clean striking of the ball, aided by sensible batting from Fawad Alam (28 from 20 balls), turned the match on its head as the duo added 48 in 4.1 overs.
And although Alam was dismissed before victory was achieved, Razzaq ensured there was no slip-up, ending the match in emphatic fashion with 17 from the 19th over from the seam bowling of debutant Ajmal Shahzad, including a straight six to win the game.
Shahzad (2-38) could still take plenty of positives from his first appearance in England colours as he captured two wickets in his first over, removing both openers, Imran Nazir (4) and Imran Farhat (0).
That looked set to put England on the way to a series-winning victory after its seven-wicket win on Friday, especially with spinner Graeme Swann returning figures of 3-14, including the wicket of Shahid Afridi (8), back in the side after suspension.
When Umar Akmal (36 from 41 deliveries) followed soon after Afridi Pakistan was 78-5 from 13 overs, but Razzaq turned the game around in spectacular fashion.
Earlier Kevin Pietersen continued his excellent form with a high-class innings. Pietersen, who made an unbeaten 43 from 43 deliveries in match one on Friday, hit four fours and three sixes and added 98 with Jonathan Trott (39 from 51 balls) for the second wicket.
That partnership was the cornerstone of England's final total, although fine late bowling by Yasir Arafat (3-32) ensured its total remained in range.
The WorldCall T-20 Challenge presented by Bank Alfalah represented the last two matches both Pakistan and England will play in the shortest international format of the game before that event in the Caribbean in April and May, with Pakistan defending the title it won in the United Kingdom last year. |
