Shaheens Fight Hard but England Lions Clinch 3-0 T20 Series Victory
England Lions completed a clean sweep over Pakistan Shaheens with a tense two wicket victory in the third T20 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium Nursery One on Tuesday evening. The win sealed a 3-0 result in the three match series. The two sides will now shift focus to a five match 50 over contest beginning Friday, 27 February, at the same venue.
After being put in to bat, Pakistan Shaheens had to rebuild early following the loss of skipper Shamyl Hussain. Opener Maaz Sadaqat steadied the innings with a composed 53 from 36 deliveries, striking four boundaries and two sixes. His knock provided the base for a competitive total as wickets fell around him.
The momentum swung further in the hosts’ favour during the closing stages of the innings. Saad Masood and Shahid Aziz stitched together an unbeaten 59 run stand for the seventh wicket to push the score to 162 for six in 20 overs. Saad finished on 29 not out off 22 balls, while Shahid added late fireworks with an unbeaten 30 from 18 deliveries, including two fours and two sixes.
For England Lions, Scott Currie was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while James Coles chipped in with two important breakthroughs to keep the total within reach.
In reply, the Lions were jolted early when Mohammad Salman removed Will Smeed in the second over. Maaz contributed with the ball as well, claiming two for 29 in his four overs, while leg spinner Saad Masood delivered an economical spell of two for 22 to tighten the contest in the middle phase.
However, captain Jordan Cox produced a decisive counterattack. His explosive 75 off just 37 balls, featuring five fours and six towering sixes, swung the momentum back towards England. Despite late resistance from Sufiyan Muqeem and Shahid Aziz, along with a sharp run out that kept Pakistan in the hunt, the visitors held their nerve.
England Lions crossed the line at 163 for eight in 19.3 overs, clinching the match with three balls to spare and completing a dominant T20 series performance. Cox was named player of the match for his match winning innings.
