Phil Salt shines as England beat Pakistan by 8 wickets

Phillip Salt's blistering knock helped England to win the sixth T20I by eight wickets and level the seven-match T20I series at 3-3. The seventh and the deciding T20I will be played on Sunday at the same ground.

As it happened:-

England won the toss and opted to bowl first against Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The hosts made two changes in the team, debutant Mohammad Haris came in place of Mohammad Rizwan and Shahnawaz Dahani came in place of Haris Rauf. England also made two changes in their playing XI, Reece Topley and Richard Gleeson came in place of Chris Woakes and Mark Wood.

Pakistan didn't start well as they lost the wicket of debutant Haris in the third over on just 14 runs. He only managed to score 7(8) and Gleeson got his wicket. David Willey dismissed Shan Masood in the very next over on 0(2). Pakistan only managed to score 40 runs with the loss of two wickets at the end of the powerplay. 

Babar Azam stitched the vital partnerships with Haider Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed in the middle overs. Sam Curran got the wicket of Haider Ali on 18(14).  Babar and Iftikhar's partnership in the middle overs revived the Pakistan Innings. Babar reached his 41-ball half-century but England got the wicket of Iftikhar when he was looking dangerous.

Babar Azam decided to change his gears in the last few overs and hit boundaries all around the ground. He became the joint fastest man to reach 3000 T20I runs alongside Virat Kohli. Babar scored an unbeaten 87 off 59 which helped Pakistan to post a total of 169/6 in 20 overs. 

Philip Salt and Alex Hales gave England an explosive start, they scored 11 runs from the first over and 22 runs from the second over. Shadab Khan gave Pakistan its first breakthrough when he got the wicket of Alex Hales on 27(12). 

Phil Salt smashed Pakistan bowlers all around the ground as England scored 82 runs in the powerplay. He also scored his second T20I fifty in just 19 balls. Shadab dismissed Dawid Malan on 26(18). England were 129/2 after 10 overs and Pakistan bowlers looked clueless in front of England batters. Phil Salt's unbeaten 88 off 41 and Ben Duckett's unbeaten 26 off 16 helped England win the match by 8 wickets with 33 balls to spare.