BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan white ball captain Babar Azam has overtaken Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the list of most T20I runs in the second T20I against England in Birmingham.
The 29-year-old is now just 13 runs away from joining India’s Virat Kohli in the list of only two players to score 4,000 runs.
Pakistan were dismissed by Babar Moen Ali while chasing 184. He scored 32 off 26 balls.
The Green Men are 76/3 in nine overs at the time of writing this story.
Earlier, Jos Buttler played the captain’s stroke and scored 84 off 51 balls with eight fours and three sixes to take the home team to 183/7. In the process, he completed 3000 runs in T20I cricket and became only the ninth player to do so in the shorter format.
Pakistan got off to a good start after Imad Wasim removed Phil Dooz in the fourth over, but Buttler and Will Jacks put on a partnership of 71 as England bounced back.
Host generally saved by impressive comeback from Pakistani bowlers, especially Haris Rauf, Imad and Shahi.
Jonny Bairstow added 21 with six boundaries as Jacks scored 37 from 23 overs. Meanwhile, the likes of Harry Brook, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone failed to reach double figures.
Jofra Archer took 12 wickets in the last over to help England post 183/7 in the allotted overs.
For Pakistan, Shaheen took three wickets while Imad and Rauf took two. Shadab Khan and Mohammad Amir failed to score a goal.
For England, Jorfa Archer has been waiting to return to the playing XI as this will be his first international appearance in over a year. On the other hand, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf has returned to the squad after three months on the sidelines.
