KARACHI: England’s middle-order batters Harry Brook and Ben Duckett decimated Pakistan’s bowling attack with a half-century each and powered their side to a mammoth 221/3 in the first inning of the third T20I of the historic seven-match series.
Batting first on the invitation of Pakistan captain Babar Azam, England’s batting line-up displayed combined effort to power the side to a massive total of 221/3 in 20 overs at the back of brilliant half-centuries from Brook and Duckett.
The touring side was off to a poor start as opening batter Phil Salt (8) perished cheaply at a combined score of 18 in the third over.
Debutant Will Jacks and Dawid Malan then anchored the innings for England with a gritty 43-run partnership for the second wicket. Malan, who was struggling to score freely fell to Usman Qadir in the seventh over after scoring a snail-paced 14.
Jacks, on the other hand, who was looking solid to score a half-century on his debut, fell 10 runs short of the feat as he too, fell victim to Usman after scoring 40 off just 22 deliveries, laced with eight boundaries, while England, as a result, slipped to 82/3 in the ninth over.
Following the slump, Brook and Duckett stood up for their team and put on a match-changing partnership. The pair stitched an unbeaten 139-run partnership for the fourth wicket and scored at an astonishingly rapid pace.
Brook top-scored for the side with a blistering 81 off just 35 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and five sixes, while Duckett scored 70 not out off 42 balls including eight boundaries and a six.
Usman led the bowling attack for Pakistan with two wickets, while Mohammad Hasnain bagged a wicket.
