After a washout in the first game, the second T20I encounter between England and Pakistan provided all the ingredients to thrill the spectators on a weekend. England chased down a massive total to take an unassailable lead with one game to go. Meanwhile, young English batsman Tom Banton played an outrageous shot including to hit Imad Wasim for a reverse sweep six.
Batting first, Pakistan got off to a flier with Babar Azam and Fakhar Azam adding 50 runs for the first wicket. The home side struck in the ninth over and removed both the openers in quick succession. However, veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez ensured that the start didn’t go wasting.
Watch – Tom Banton reverse sweeps Imad Wasim for six
He blasted a 36-ball 69, including four sixes, before he fell with just one ball left in the visitors’ innings. As a result, Pakistan posted 195 runs from their quota of 20 overs.
While many thought it will be difficult for England to chase the target but Tom Banton and Jonny Bairstow launched an attack to set the tone. Although Banton managed only 20 runs before getting out but played an outrageous reverse sweep off Imad Wasim.
The incident took place in the 3rd over of England’s innings. It was a dart from Imad and Banton used the pace on the ball to reverse sweep it for a six. The ball flew over the backward point as Tom Banton once again proved why everyone in world cricket talks highly of him.
Watch the video here:
Just ridiculous from @TBanton18 😱
Live score/clips: https://t.co/jbQgZsoeXk pic.twitter.com/jV1wKOGKqe
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 30, 2020
England had already reached 65 runs at the end of the powerplays before the openers departed. The job was on skipper Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan, who didn’t disappoint.
Morgan finally fell for a 33-ball 66, holing out on the leg side, and Moeen Ali fell to a tame shot five balls later to leave England needing 14 runs from the final 14 balls. Although Malan still at the crease which gave the home side some hope.
Sam Billings released the pressure with back-to-back boundaries before Dawid Malan pierced the field for a boundary of the first ball of the 20th over to guide his side home.
