Eng Vs Pak: Pakistan bat after winning toss in Pallekele Super 8s
In the Super Eight Group 2 match at Pallekele, eng vs pak saw Pakistan win the toss and elect to bat; Pak finished 164-9 (20 overs) with Farhan 63 and Dawson 3-24, leaving England needing 165 to win and qualify for the semi-finals. Salt nicks Shaheen behind for a golden duck as the early moments set the tone for a tight contest.
Toss and batting decision at Pallekele
The match is a T20 World Cup Super 8s, Group 2 fixture in Pallekele. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. That decision produced a full 20-over innings, ending Pak 164-9 (20 overs): Farhan 63; Dawson 3-24. England need 165 to win and qualify for semi-finals.
Pak innings and top scores
Farhan was the standout for Pakistan, finishing with 63 off 45 balls. The scorecard shows Pak 164-9 (20 overs) and Dawson finished with bowling figures of 3-24. Salt nicks Shaheen behind for golden duck early in the innings, and the innings included tight moments and big hits from both sides.
Early England batting moments
Harry Brook was promoted and had a high-impact start: "High, handsome and over the boundary at mid-wicket! A big six for the England captain. " With a flick of the wrists Harry Brook was off the mark with a boundary through square leg off Salman Mirza. It was the first time in his T20 international career that Harry Brook had batted at number three and the first time he had ever found himself at the crease in the first over of the match.
Jacob Bethell pushed his first ball to mid-off. His second was a dot, and then he used his feet to the final ball of the over, working a single to deep backward square-leg. Bethell then offered a bottom edge on an attempted cut that carried to the keeper.
Bowlers and key deliveries
Shaheen produced notable early movement. The Pakistan seamer beat Brook with a skiddy delivery that nipped on a fourth-stump line and later Shaheen thought he had a second to finish the first over. The ball angled across Buttler – his first ball – and beat his edge; replays showed there was daylight between bat and ball. The left-arm quick fired one across the right-hander, who nicked the first ball – an attempted drive – to the keeper.
There were phases of dot balls: three dot balls followed a boundary to begin an over, including one that beat the bat. Brook dropped the third ball to midwicket and scamped two; the right-hander nearly chipped to mid-on. At one point Brook got one back of a length and hammered a pull over the advertising hoarding for six.
Eng Vs Pak match status
The match narrative mixed tactical moves and individual moments. Observers noted: "We're told this is definitely a tactical decision to promote Harry Brook. Jacob Bethell is fine. " Commentator Aatif Nawaz said: "I'm worried about England against spin. This will be the game to show they are capable. " Matthew Henry summed an early passage with: "Perfect start for Pakistan as Salt is caught by Usman Khan. "
Brook eased the first ball of an over backward of point for a single and later flicked the first ball off his legs for four backward of square. At times the ball started to move away from Brook, who was squared up as he defended and took a single. A single to deep point finished an over described as a mixed one for Mirza. One commentator noted: "What a start from the man dropped for the last game. "
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Closing: The Super Eight Group 2 game at Pallekele ended with Pakistan 164-9 (20 overs), Farhan 63 and Dawson 3-24; England require 165 to win and qualify for the semi-finals.
