Abu Dhabi: England bowlers kept their tension in the last over’s to pull off a thrilling 5run win over Pakistan in the 3rd and last Twenty20 series here on Monday to take the series 2-1.
Set 130 to win Pakistan were going along well at 107-4 with 23 needed off the last three over’s and 17 off the remain two but Stuart Broad and Jade Dernbach did not lose guts and pulled off the win in the final over. Broad dismiss a well set Umar Akmal (22) off the third ball of the one before the last over and gave away just four runs, leaving Jade Dernbach to defend 13 in the last, which he successfully did, removing Misbah-ul Haq (28) off the final delivery.
Dernbach ended with 2-24 and most importantly gave World Twenty20 champions a surprising win. Pakistan won the first match by 8 runs while England win the 2nd by 38 runs -- both played in Dubai. Pakistan had lost opener Mohammad Hafeez for a second nought of the series but Awais Zia (23) and Shafiq added 40 for the second wickets before Zia was trapped leg-before by Graeme Swann and Shafiq was run out.
Captain Misbah and Umar Akmal added 37 for the 4th wickets and when it looks as if that would help Pakistan cross the line England pulls back with remarkable resilience. With 13 needed off the last over Shahid Afridi took a couple before he was run out as taking a 2nd off the next. The next 3 balls produced singles and a wide and with 6 needed off the last ball, Misbah was bowled. Earlier off-spinner Saeed Ajmal finished with 4-23 -- his 3rd four wicket haul in the direct form of the game -- to restrict England to a modest 129-6 after they win the toss and batted.
Ajmal, who cracked England in the preceding 3-Test series with 24 wickets to help Pakistan to a 3-0 rout, put the brakes on his rival's movement. Opener Kevin Pietersen top scored with 62 not out, keeped one end intact during his 52-ball knock for his 7th T20 fifty. He hit 6 boundaries and a 6 off the last ball of the innings. Ajmal provide Pakistan with the get through after England raced to 29 by the 5 over, dismissing Craig Kieswetter (17) off a lofted shot at long-on where Shoaib Malik takes the catch.
Kieswetter had hit a 4r and six off paceman Umar Gul in the third over. Pakistan had Ravi Bopara caught behind off paceman Aizaz Cheema for one and Eoin Morgan run out for nine by Ajmal accounted for Jonny Bairstow (3), Jos Butler (7) and Samit Patel (16).The match ended England's long tour of the United Arab Emirates where they lost the Tests but win the ODI series 4-0.
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