Pakistan cruise to ruthless nine-wicket win
Pakistan, in their first T20 under Sarfraz Ahmed's captaincy, secured a thumping nine-wicket victory with a massive 31 deliveries to spare
Pakistan, in their first T20 under Sarfraz Ahmed's captaincy, secured a thumping nine-wicket victory with a massive 31 deliveries to spare
Commentator: Andrew Miller
9.35pm So, that is the end of the match, and of Pakistan's tour. And I for one am delighted they are able to leave the country on a high after what has been a tremendous bridge-building trip. Their predecessors left the country under a cloud six years ago, but this squad has won fans and friends everywhere they have gone this time. It all started with Misbah and those press-ups at Lord's, evolved through England's dominance in the middle of the Test series to Younis Khan's magnificence at The Oval and the No. 1 Test ranking, before England touched new heights of brilliance in the opening matches of the ODIs. Never a dull moment, which is what you come to expect from Pakistan sides. They've kept that tradition strong on this tour!
Thanks for all your feedback, sorry we couldn't use more, but it's all a bit frantic in this format. From myself, Andrew Miller, and my sidekicks Alan Gardner and Andrew "Gnasher" McGlashan, whose match report is right here, thank you and goodnight.
9.31pm I thought that was all the formalities, but no, mustn't forget the Super Series! England win 16-12 in the amalgamated format, four points for a Test win, two for ODI and T20. Andrew Strauss makes a presentation to Eoin Morgan (and resists the urge to frogmarch him onto the plane to Bangladesh while he's at it.)
The Man of the Match goes to Wahab Riaz for his spell of 3 for 18. "Obviously the way England have been playing we knew we needed wickets to put them under pressure. The way Roy and Hales play they are very destructive. But Imad kept them quiet and made them take chances. The wicket is very slow and we had to put a lot of slower balls and yorkers in to keep the batsmen guessing. Sarfraz was very concerned about this game, we have to win this game and give everything we've got. I enjoy playing here, we have enjoyed the tour, good for the team and individually."
Here's Sarfraz: "Yesterday we decided the plan was short balls and slower balls, and we executed our plans very well. We had to play positive cricket, we won the last game and morale is very high."
9.24pm Here's Eoin Morgan: "We needed about 185 on that wicket. It's hard to believe it's the same team that scored 444 a few games ago. But it's my fault with the toss. Our guys thrive on T20 cricket, play golf on the morning of the game, chill out in the lead-up, can't use After-Lord's-Major's-Show as an excuse. Pakistan outplayed us in the conditions. But I still like to think we are on an upward curve. Things are really bright at the moment, a huge amount of ability and fearlessness."
Morgan confirms he has not made his decision on Bangladesh, but he's not thought about it yet. "Ultimately it comes down to how comfortable I feel."
9.19pm Shambolic scenes at the end there, with a mass pitch invasion, and none other than Reg Dickason, England's otherwise preoccupied security advisor, was forced to step in.
I daresay there will be an inquest there. "Where were the stewards, but frankly, who cares?" as Pakistan's Barry Davies might have put it...
Sufyan: "Pakistan Zindabad!!" Couldn't have put it better myself.
9.15pm So, as a postscript to an ODI series in which England touched unthinkable heights and Pakistan plumbed some unspeakable depths, the roles have been reversed to stunning effect tonight. Pakistan win by nine wickets with 31 balls to spare ... a hammering in any language or format. Eoin Morgan has the look of a serial killer as he leads his team from the side. He is furious, but Pakistan are ecstatic and little wonder. A triumphant way to finish a famous tour in which, lest we forget, they rose to become the No.1 Test team in the world. They've got things ticking at both extremes of this sport. Now then, about that 50-over regeneration ...?
Jimbo: "Looking forward to watching the second innings when I get home from work. Then, I plan to watch the first innings at bedtime to help put me to sleep..." It's a game of two halves. Or is that the Old Trafford up the road?
Abuzar Shaikh: "Now i came to know why they have kept only 1 T20 Against pakistan..." It's a conspiracy!
Azhar: "Positive thing about Khalid & Sharjeel is that they are brave to try to hit boundary in every over, Andrew are you brave enough to publish my comment?" Brave or foolish?
Stats highlights and milestones from Pakistan's nine-wicket win in the one-off T20I against England at Old Trafford
Plays of the day from the one-off T20 between England and Pakistan
ESPNcricinfo previews the one-off T20I between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford
Wahab Riaz bounced back from figures of 0 for 110 at Trent Bridge with a Man-of-the-Match display at Old Trafford