imageEngland beat Pakistan by 14 runs in the first Twenty20 international to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series in Dubai on Thursday.

It was an impressive performance by England who scored a challenging 160-5 in their 20 overs with Sam Billings hitting a maiden half century before Pakistan were bowled out for 146 off the last ball in another rollercoaster batting display at Dubai stadium.

Pakistan also lost skipper Shahid Afridi for a second-ball duck and Sohaib Maqsood stumped, three wickets falling off six balls with the addition of just one run. This was Pakistan's first defeat in seven T20Is, while England has now won four in a row; it is only five T20 games since they were defeated by Holland.

‘Boom Boom’ Shahid Afridi remains part of Pakistan's T20; Pakistan T20 squad has an interesting collection of inexperienced players such as Aamir Yamin and Bilal Asif, experienced veterans in form of Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez. However, Pakistan were set their sixth highest successful T20 chase and Afridi, still hopes his young team will fight hard.

Again, Pakistan will face England in a second match of Twenty20 series in Dubai tonight.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2015

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