Pakistan post their highest T20I score against England in first T20I

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Babar Azam’s 85-run knock and cameos from middle-order helped Pakistan post their highest T20I score of 232-6 in first T20I against England in Nottingham on Friday.

After being asked to bat first, Pakistan openers took their time in first two overs to get going. Babar Azam hit the accelerator button in the third over of the innings as he smashed David Willey for a hat-trick of boundaries.

As Rizwan was struggling to time the ball, Babar continued to hit the odd boundary in every over, to take Pakistan to 49 without loss at the end of powerplay.

On a batting-friendly pitch, Rizwan was going at a strike-rate of 100 before he decided to up the ante in the eight over as he hit Liam Livingstone for back to back to boundaries.

Babar brought up his fifty in just 35 balls to keep Pakistan on track for a big total. Pakistan captain took his team past 100 in style by dispatching Matt Parkinson for a six over deep mid-wicket. Rizwan also took inspiration from Babar and rendered the same treatment to Parkinson in the same over, taking Pakistan to 111/0 at the end of 12 overs.

Despite struggling early on, Rizwan brought up his fifty faster than Babar, completing it in just 34 balls.

Babar took a particular liking to Parkinson as he hit spinner for a six and a four on consecutive deliveries. The duo combined for a 150-run partnership before Rizwan was caught behind for 63 on the bowling of Lewis Gregory.

Sohaib Maqsood welcomed Tom Curran back into the attack by hitting back to back sixes as he raced to 19 from 6 balls. However, Curran got his revenge in the same over as he was caught at deep mid-wicket while trying to slog for another six.

Babar Azam was undone in the next over by Willey as he was caught behind by Bairstow.

Fakhar Zaman displayed his intentions straight away as he went on a rampage against Saqib Mahmood, hitting the pacer for three sixes in the 18th over.

Hafeez also joined the party in the next over as he smashed Tom Curran for two sixes and a boundary. Curran bowled Hafeez on the last ball of his spell, but not before the veteran all-rounder scored 24 in 10 balls.

Fakhar tried to slog on the first ball of the last over but was caught at long on for 26. Azam Khan hit a boundary on the first ball of his international career, helping Pakistan build on a mammoth total.