Last laugh: Pakistan thrash England in T20

MANCHESTER: Pakistan hammered England by nine wickets in their tour-ending Twenty20 international at Old Trafford on Wednesday, recording one of their biggest ever wins in the format.

Having restricted England to just 135, Pakistan openers Sharjeel Khan (59) and Khalid Latif (59 not out) shared a blistering first-wicket stand of 107 runs that all but sealed victory.

Pakistan finished on 139 for one with 31 balls to spare as they gave Sarfraz Ahmed a win in his first match as Twenty20 captain.

Earlier England, fielding the same side that lost to the West Indies in the last over of April's World Twenty20 final but also put up a world record One Day International total of 444 runs, managed just 135 for seven after winning the toss.

Wahab Riaz took three for 18 and spinner Imad Wasim two for 17 as England hit just one boundary in the last 10 overs of their innings.

Openers Alex Hales (37) and Jason Roy (21) were the only England batsmen with a score or more runs as Pakistan, who shared the Test series 2-2 and lost the one-dayers 4-1, had a night to remember under the Old Trafford floodlights.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2016.