Razzaq inspires Pakistan to a series levelling win by Jinu Sabastian

---

Ground:	Dubai Sports City Stadium, Dubai
Scorecard:	England v Pakistan
Player:	KP Pietersen, Abdul Razzaq
Event:	Pakistan in United Arab Emirates 2009/10

---

DateLine: 20th February 2010

 

Pakistan tasted a victory after a long time as they defeated England in the second and the final T20 encounter to level the series. England had scored 148 for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs while Pakistan inspired by a Razzaq blitz chased down the target with one over to spare.

 

Malik surprised everybody by electing to field first believing that his bowlers had the firepower to restrict the English batsmen. Yasir Arafat cleaned up a leaden footed Denly to give his team a good start. But that was the only positive thing for the Pakistani side as Trott in company of an explosive Pietersen tore into the Pakistani side. Pietersen carried his good from the previous encounter into this match as he slammed three massive sixes an four stunning boundaries to inject some serious momentum into the innings. Trott though could not find the same fluency as that of Pietersen but did well to bat Pakistani side into submission.

The pair added 98 in 12.3 overs to put the Pakistani side on the back foot. The partnership snapped when Trott was run-out before Pietersen was trapped leg before by a straighter one from Ajmal. The rest of the batsmen failed to cash in on the partnership as the English innings closed at 148 for the loss six wickets in 20 overs.

 

Pakistan's reply got of to a jolted start as Ahmed Shahzad removed Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat in the first over of the innings and it seemed that the English side would be wrapping up the match quickly. Malik and Afridi fell in trying to up the ante while Umar Akmal was foxed by the wily Swann. With the score at 78 for 5 the Pakistani hopes rested squarely on the shoulders of Fawad Alam and Razzaq.

 

The pair took the course that was taken by Morgan and Pietersen in the previous encounter as they first steadied the innings. Razzaq then opened his shoulders as he slammed two hug sixes off Collingwood to inject the momentum into the innings. The pair added 48 runs in 4.1 overs before Alam pulled a short one from Broad into the hands of Morgan at deep square-leg. That prompted Razzaq to finish off the match in a hurry as he targeted Shahzad in the 19th over of the innings as he slammed two sixes to level the series.