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England snare T20 series win over Pakistan

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England's Chris Jordan and David Willey were at the crease to see the hosts home against Pakistan.
Camera IconEngland's Chris Jordan and David Willey were at the crease to see the hosts home against Pakistan. Credit: AP

A nervy England have defeated Pakistan by three wickets, with just two balls to spare, in a nail-biting encounter at Old Trafford to seal a 2-1 T20 series win.

Pakistan, who won the toss and opted to bat in front of a noisy 20,000-strong crowd on a dry wicket, reached 6-154 with opener Mohammad Rizwan top scoring with 76 not out.

England were cruising half way through their innings but the loss of Jason Roy, caught by Fakhar on 64, left the hosts sweating in a breathless finish as the Pakistan spinners went to work and wickets tumbled.

Liam Livingstone came in to bat in the penultimate over, smashing his first ball for a mighty six but was then caught off the next, leaving England requiring six runs from the final over.

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Captain Eoin Morgan was out with four runs still required but Chris Jordan and David Willey did what was needed.

The white-ball match was the last home T20 for Morgan's England side before the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman in October.

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"It means a huge amount," said Morgan of the win.

"The style in which we play naturally, and the game which we are best at, I think this is the worst possible wicket that we can actually apply it on.

"So it's a very proud day for us. On a spinning, slow wicket we've managed to win a game against a very good side."

Pakistan had won the opener in Nottingham before England took the second encounter in Leeds.

Legspinner Adil Rashid took four wickets for England, three from his first 10 balls and starting with captain Babar Azam stumped by Jos Buttler for 11 off a googly in the sixth.

Pakistan were 1-42 before Rashid bagged a quick double as Sohaib Maqsood lofted the ball straight to Jason Roy and Mohammad Hafeez's high shot was easily plucked by Jonny Bairstow.

Rashid's fourth wicket came in the 17th over when Shadab Khan skied a shot to the leg side and was caught by Lancashire local Livingstone, leaving Rashid to complete his stint with figures of 4-35.

Moeen Ali had Fakhar (24) out lbw on review and shone in the evening sunshine with figures of 1-19 from his four overs and no boundaries conceded.

England reached 60 without loss in reply but Buttler (21) swung high in the eighth over, with Shadab bowling, and was caught by Babar as Pakistan breathed a sigh of relief.

Roy chalked up his half century in the 10th as England reached the half-way point at 1-83, before it all went wobbly.

Bairstow went cheaply for five, caught by Maqsood, and England needed 51 from 40 balls with Ali coming to the crease before going for one, bowled clean through the middle stump by Hafeez.

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