England timed their run chase to perfection to beat Pakistan by seven wickets in their Twenty20 international at Cardiff.
Solid batting from skipper Eoin Morgan (57 not out), Joe Root (47) and James Vince (36) saw England chase down Pakistan’s 173-6 with four balls to spare.
After their 50-over victory over Ireland on Friday, this has proved to be a successful start to England’s summer, one which features the ODI World Cup and the Ashes.
England have never lost a T20 international at Cardiff and that record was protected with a composed all-round display on a greenish Sophia Gardens strip.
Jofra Archer also gave another tantalising glimpse of his rich talents by taking 2-29 in the Pakistan innings.
In responding to Pakistan’s total, Ben Duckett fell early on his return to England colours for the first time since November 2016.
Duckett departed for nine when he drove Shaheen Afridi straight to Imad Wasim at mid-off, but Vince and Root played some sumptuous strokes to keep up with the rate.
Vince had made 36 from 27 balls when umpire Alex Wharf felt he had feathered a delivery from Wasim down the leg side.
The decision was upheld on review, with replays indicating the faintest of edges into the gloves of wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Morgan took 14 runs off three successive balls from Faheem Ashraf as England pressed home their advantage.
And, even when Root fell to another Sarfaraz catch, there was no sign of England letting victory slip.
Not what David Willey expected in Cardiff. #ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/sM4VjR8B3s
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) May 5, 2019
Pakistan had earlier got out of a batting hole – after paceman David Willey nearly fell down one.
Babar Azam (65) and Haris Sohail (50) rescued Pakistan from a perilous 31-2 with some clean striking, but the innings will be remembered for an extraordinary incident at the start of the third over.
Willey was just about to reach the delivery crease when the ground gave way beneath him and a huge hole appeared in the Sophia Gardens turf.
Ground staff were able to repair the damage, apparently the result of a pitch box popping up, but Willey was fortunate to escape serious injury.
Ben Foakes failed to run out Fakhar Zaman early on after the Pakistan opener had been involved in a mix-up between the wickets with Babar, but England then enjoyed some success.
Fakhar failed to make the most of his lifeline as he drove Tom Curran into the covers and Morgan took an excellent catch above his head.
England were well on top as Archer impressed on his T20 international debut. The Barbardos-born paceman produced some wonderful variation, mixing slower balls with real snorters, and removed Imam-ul-Haq for seven.
Provided by Press Association Sport
