England snatched a three-run victory against Pakistan in the second Twenty20 worldwide in Dubai by overcoming a terrific all-round display from Shahid Afridi to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
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With an eye on the series as well as preparations for the World T20 next year, England shuffled their pack again, bringing in Jos Buttler, David Willey, Joe Root and Chris Woakes, and leaving out Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan and Reece Topley.
Liam Plunkett played a significant part too, recovering after conceding 15 runs in his first over to end up with three for 33 – and take his tally to six wickets in the past two days, in only his second and third Twenty20 caps and first since 2006.
Afridi gave his team the breakthrough by dismissing Alex Hales (11) off his first ball in the fifth over.
Billings hit five sixes and two boundaries before being run out from the final ball the innings.
It was an eventful game for Afridi, who earlier took three wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs, his skiddy legbreaks causing problems for the English batsmen.
Billings was run out from the final ball of the innings and then shelled a sharp, high chance behind the stumps in the opening over of Pakistan’s knock, 39-year-old debutant Rafatullah Mohmand the man to profit.
Besides, Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid claimed two wickets while Stephen Parry also chipped in with a wicket.
“Tonight was a really strong performance in which we showed a lot of character”. Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik then added 30 quick runs off just 19 balls before Plunkett elicited an edge off Hafeez (25).
Buttler was stressed but happy after a win on his first outing as England captain.
The remaining matches in the three-game series will be played in Dubai (Friday) and Sharjah (Monday). Afridi returned for his last over to have Vince caught in the deep.
Woakes had finished well with the bat, and did likewise with the ball.
But Afridi had other ideas, signalling his intentions by clubbing his first ball for four and then tearing into Woakes, who was dispatched over the ropes three times before the right-hander sliced to Plunkett at short third man.
Replacing Root at number three, he had a maiden 50 in his sights until he began to struggle against Wahab’s changes of pace and was eventually bowled for 41 aiming a big hit at another slower ball.
To be honest, four games out from the World Twenty20 in India, England should have settled on their best side by now.
“I loved the experience”, the Lancashire wicketkeeper-batsman said.
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“It’s encouraging as a side to win when we didn’t feel we played our best”.
