England take lead in T20 series by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Scorecard:	England v Pakistan
Player:	GP Swann, Shahid Afridi
Event:	Pakistan in England 2010

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DateLine: 5th September 2010

 

The English T20 outfit without much alarms took lead in the T20 series. Pakistan in their alloted 20 overs could only manage 126 for the loss of 4 wickets. The English side on the other hand overcame the target in 17.1 overs

 

Collingwood won the toss and elected to field first. This was England's first Twenty20 fixture since they beat Australia in the World Twenty20 final in Barbados in May. This was Pakistan's first match since Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were suspended by the International Cricket Council after newspaper allegations the trio were involved in a betting scam that saw no-balls deliberately bowled in last week's fourth Test at Lord's.

 

Tim Bresnan struck with his second ball when Kamran Akmal skied a simple catch to Yardy at mid-on. Swann with a burst of two for five in seven balls that reduced Pakistan to 56 for three inside nine overs. He had Yousuf well caught by Eoin Morgan, running in from midwicket and then beat Shazaib in the flight with wicketkeeper Steven Davies completing a legside stumping.

 

It was then left to Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi to take Pakistan to a defendable total with a solid fifth-wicket stand of 38 in 4.5 overs. Pakistan reached 126 for 4 in their 20 overs.

 

England in reply were jolted early as Shoaib Akthar removed opener Kieswetter and Bopara with literally nothing on the board. Afridi the removed Wright and Collingwood to leave England limping at 62 for 5. Had Akthar held onto a simple catch from Morgan of Afridi the match would have being in the back pocket of Pakistan. But then Morgan and Yardy steered England past the Pakistani target to take lead in the T20 series.