Published: Jun 13, 2018, 01:08 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 13, 2018, 01:10 PM (IST)
After beating top-ranked ODI side England in an ODI, Scotland put up a strong fight against top-ranked T20I side Pakistan in a T20I, at Grange Cricket Club, Raeburn Place, Edinburgh. In the end, however, the Pakistan total of 204 for 4 turned out to be too big, despite Scotland reaching 53 without loss after 5 overs. Pakistan eventually won by 48 runs. captain-wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed blazed away to a 49-ball 89 not out (10 fours, 3 sixes), the highest T20I score by a Pakistan captain, and was named Player of the Match.
Pakistan were off to a cautious start. By the time Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, and Hussain Talat all fell, Pakistan were 87 for 3 after 10.4 overs. Then Shoaib Malik (53 in 27 balls, 5 sixes but no four) joined Sarfraz and helped add 96 in 49 balls. Malik hit his 5 sixes in a 7-ball span. Sarfraz took 18 off the last 4 balls of the innings, off Safyaan Sharif, the man who ended the England ODI. Amidst all the carnage, Alasdair Evans returned excellent figures of 4-0-23-3.
George Munsey (25 in 22) and Kyle Coetzer (31 in 18) provided the perfect start to Scotland’s chase. Unfortunately, Shadab Khan’s twin strikes derailed their chase. This included Calum MacLeod, hero of the England ODI, leg-before for 12. Michael Leask’s 24-ball 38 not out came too late in the day. Shadab and Hasan Ali shared 2 wickets apiece in Scotland’s 156 for 6.
The second (and last) T20I of the series will be played at the same ground, on June 13. It will also conclude Pakistan’s tour of the British Isles.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 204 for 4 in 20 overs [Sarfraz Ahmed 89*(49), Shoaib Malik 53(27); Alasdair Evans 4-0-23-3, Richie Berrington 3-0-29-1] beat Scotland 156 for 6 in 20 overs [Kyle Coetzer 31(18), Michael Leask 38*(24); Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-22-1, Hasan Ali 4-0-33-2, Shadab Khan 4-0-25-2] by 48 runs.
Player of the Match: Sarfraz Ahmed.
