Highlights: Banton fires before rain forces no result

August 29, 2020 at 5:07 AM

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Tom Banton hit a sparkling 71 from 42 balls before rain caused the match to be abandoned after 16.1 overs of England’s innings.

Opening the batting in the absence of Jason Roy, who has been ruled out of the series with a side strain, Banton smashed five sixes in a knock which put England in a strong position despite a slow start.

Imad Wasim took a sharp catch off his own bowling to dismiss Jonny Bairstow in the opening over of the match after the visitors had elected to field first. Pakistan could have had two wickets in the first two overs, but a chance at slip was put down off the bowling of Shaheen Afridi to give Banton a life when he was on just five.

After seven overs England had just 40 runs on the board, but the 21-year-old opener greeted Shadab Khan’s introduction by sweeping his first ball over deep mid-wicket for his first six of the innings. The first two balls of Shadab’s next over were also hit for six, but Dawid Malan was run out from the third after a mix-up.

Eoin Morgan reverse swept his first ball for four, and then smashed his third ball for six as he joined Banton in accelerating the innings. Banton moved to his maiden T20I fifty and then hit Imad for his fourth six before scooping Haris Rauf for his fifth maximum.

Shadab finally got Banton next over though, as the Somerset batsman went for one shot too many and skied a catch to Imad.

Banton’s wicket precipitated a collapse for England as they lost four wickets in 19 balls, with Morgan trapped leg before attempting to sweep, Moeen Ali feathering behind and Lewis Gregory charging past one.

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Before Pakistan could continue their charge however, rain began to fall. The weather didn’t relent for long enough at any stage for the players to return to the field, leaving the match to finish as a no result. Shadab and Imad each finished with two wickets, while Iftikhar Ahmed took one.

The second T20I will be played at the same venue on Sunday, 30 August.(ICC)