Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : England issued a powerful statement of intent ahead of their T20 World Cup title defence, comprehensively defeating Pakistan by seven wickets in the fourth and final T20 International at The Oval. This victory secured a 2-0 series win for the hosts, with two matches having been washed out by rain.
Opting to field first, Pakistan saw England's openers, captain Jos Buttler (39) and Phil Salt (45), lay a blistering foundation with an 82-run partnership in just 6.2 overs. Will Jacks added a quickfire 20 before Jonny Bairstow (28*) and Harry Brook (17*) calmly guided England to their target of 158 with 27 balls to spare, finishing on 158-3. Pakistan's bowlers, including Haris Rauf who took 3-38, struggled to contain the aggressive English batting lineup.
Earlier, Pakistan's innings had shown early promise with Babar Azam (36) and Mohammad Rizwan (23) putting on 59 for the first wicket. However, once they departed, the batting order unravelled. Usman Khan contributed a brisk 38 from 21 balls, but a middle-order collapse saw them slump from 84-2 to eventually being bowled out for 157 in 19.5 overs.
England's bowlers were highly effective. Mark Wood's searing pace (2-35) troubled the batsmen, while Adil Rashid's crafty leg-spin (2-27) proved crucial in the middle overs. Jofra Archer, continuing his return to international cricket, bowled economically, and Liam Livingstone also chipped in with two wickets, including a stunning caught-and-bowled effort.
This convincing performance provides a significant boost for England as they head to the Caribbean. Their batting depth and varied bowling attack, featuring the welcome return of Archer's pace and Wood's hostility, looked in excellent shape.
For Pakistan, the defeat highlights concerns about their batting consistency beyond their star openers and their ability to build substantial totals. They will need to address these issues quickly before their World Cup campaign begins. Both teams will now travel to the West Indies and USA for the T20 World Cup, with England looking like a formidable unit ready to defend their crown.
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