Shadab Khan is too hot to handle and other takeaways as Pakistan beat Scotland in first T20I

Waseem Ahmed 22:39 12/06/2018
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  • Shadab Khan was the star with the ball for Pakistan.

    Scotland were unable to add another No1 scalp to their name as they slumped to a 48-run defeat to Pakistan in the first of the two T20Is at the Grange Cricket Club at Edinburgh on Tuesday.

    Having sensationally beaten England by five runs in an one-off ODI on Sunday, Scotland were unable to pull the same trick twice as Pakistan’s quality shone through.

    Having elected to bat first, Pakistan put on 204-5 on the board in 20 overs before their bowlers restricted the hosts to 156-6 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

    Here, we look at the key takeaways from Pakistan’s big win.

    SARFRAZ PLAYS A CAPTAIN’S KNOCK

    After a brisk start, both Pakistan openers fell within the powerplay itself to give Scotland an opening into the match. However, skipper Sarfraz Ahmed ensured that the visitors stayed well ahead in the clash with an innings laden with big strokes all over the park.

    The wicket-keeper batsman first formed a promising partnership with Hussain Talat before coming together with Shoaib Malik to give the Pakistan innings an outstanding finish.

    The right-hander finished the Pakistan innings with a flourish by scoring three boundaries and a six off the last four balls to remain unbeaten on 89 (49). His innings, which included a total of 10 boundaries and three sixes, is his highest score in T20Is.

    Sarfraz notched up his highest T20I score.

    Sarfraz notched up his highest T20I score.

    SHOAIB MALIK PUTS ON THE LATE FIREWORKS

    While Sarfraz and Talat had done well to keep the Pakistan innings ticking in the middle, there was a period between overs 11-13 which fetched only 20 runs. With the scoring-rate dropping down, in walked Malik and the veteran Pakistan batsman wasted no time in taking his toll on the bowlers.

    The 36-year-old immediately upped the ante with some expansive strokes as Scotland’s bowlers found nowhere to hide. Dealing only in sixes, Malik registered his seventh T20I half-century with the help of five big hits over the fence.

    His 23-ball half-century is the joint third highest for Pakistan in T20Is and it set the tone for a big finish for the visitors as the runs flowed in the death overs.

    The veteran combined brilliantly with his skipper.

    The veteran combined brilliantly with his skipper.

    MUNSEY AND COZETZER GET SCOTLAND OFF TO A FLYER

    Having been set a daunting target of 205 runs to win, Scotland’s openers George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer started in exactly the fashion required off them.

    Carrying on from their good form in the ODI win over England, the two openers showed no respect for the reputation of Pakistan’s bowlers as they went hell for leather in the powerplay.

    None of the Pakistan bowlers, including Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali were spared as boundaries came willingly in the first five overs.  Even the world-class Amir found the going hard as Scotland skipper Coetzer lofted him for a straight six over his head in his very first over.

    The two batsmen had raced away to 53 runs after five overs before Munsey fell to Hasan Ali in the first ball of the sixth over.

    Munsey helped Scotland to a rapid start.

    Munsey helped Scotland to a rapid start.

    SHADAB TAKES THE GAME AWAY FROM SCOTLAND

    The dismissal of Munsey was soon followed by Coetzer throwing away his wicket to a lazy shot against Mohammad Nawaz. Despite that, their blitz at the top had set the platform for the likes of Sunday’s ODI win hero Calum MacLeod.

    Pakistan teenager Shadab Khan had different plans though, as the leg-spinner created havoc with his very first ball. Coming on to bowl in the eighth over, Shadab castled the dangerous Richie Berrington with an absolute ripper to set the alarm bells ringing for Scotland.

    The 19-year-old youngster then all but won the game for Pakistan by trapping MacLeod plumb on the pads to reduce to 82-4 in the 12th over. By the time the youngster had bowled his full quota of overs, the game had already gone beyond the reach of the brave Scotsmen.

    Shadab finished with excellent figures of 2-25 from his four overs on a pitch that was an absolute belter for the batsmen.

    Shadab derailed Scotland's innings completely.

    Shadab derailed Scotland’s innings completely.

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