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Alex Hales shined with the bat in his first international game since March 2019, helping England chase down a modest 159-run target to beat Pakistan in the first T20I at National Stadium in Karachi on Tuesday. The impressive six-wicꩵket win also propelled the vꦡisitors to take a 1-0 lead in the seven-match series.
The star opener smashed 53 from 40 deliveries, his ninth T20I half-century, including seven fours, and set up a perfect chase for his side. Along with Harry Brook, who impressed with an unbeaten 42 off 25 balls, Hales formed a 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Haris Rauf dismissed him in the 17th over. ♓However, by then, it was too late for the hosts, as England won𓃲 the contest with four balls to spare.
Earlier, the tourists bowled exceptionally well to restrict Pakistan to 158/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Luke Wood picked up three wickets while conceding 24 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Similarly, Adil Rashid also bagged a couඣple of scalps for 27 runs in 4 overs.
For the home side, opener Mohammad Rizwan top-scored ꧑with 68 from 46 deliveries with the help of ༒eight boundaries, including a couple of sixes.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Victory to start the series 💪
🇵🇰 🏴
— England Cricket (@englandcricket)
England seal a꧂ fine w✨in to go 1-0 up in the seven-match series 🙌🏻 |
— ICC (@ICC)
Responsible innings from Alex Hales o🐟n his comeback. A fifty in his first international match since 10th March 2019
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket)
3 for 24 for Luke Wood on debut and a 39-ball half-century for the returning Alex Hales: strong T🌌r♔ent Rockets, strong England
— Matt Roller (@mroller98)
An immediate impact.
Alex Hales cuts, clobbers, pulls and piledrives his way to 5️⃣3️⃣ as E𝔉ngl🐎and win the first IT20 against Pakistan.
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge)
Engla༒nd win the series opener by six wicꦜkets 🏏 |
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB)
Fifty by Alex Hales – a terrific innings right after returning to the England team after 42 months. Fantastic by Hales!
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra)
Alex Hales﷽ crashing the ball through the covers in an England shirt. Waited few years for that x
— CityGroundShelf (@CityGroundShelf)
Good to see Alex Hales is back 👊
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm)
England have chased down 157 runs with ease & won🦩 the 1st T20I by 6 wkts courtesy Alex Hales masterclass of 53 off 40 & a fiery innings of 42* off 25 from Harry Brook. What a start to this historic series in Pakistan after 17 years as England 1/0 Up in the 7 match T20I series.
— Ayesha⁶⁶ (@JoeRoot66Fan)
