Photo Credit: Pakistan Cricket Board
Tom Banton scored 71 before the opening T20 international match between England and Pakistan was abandoned because of rain at Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday.
Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam decision to bowl first after winning the toss paid off in the first over, as England lost Jonny Bairstow on the fifth ball of the match to Imad Wasim. The fellow opener Banton, having survived a chance at slip on five off Shaheen Shah’s bowling, struck five sixes in his knock as England reached 131-6 in 16.1 overs before the weather closed in.
The umpires eventually called off play with the outfield too wet to continue.
A 71-run partnership between Banton and Dawid Malan (23 off 23) promised a high score for the hosts, but Pakistan spinners pulled back the innings dismissing four batsmen for only 14 runs.
Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan both claimed two wickets for 31 and 33 runs respectively, while Iftikhar Ahmed had England’s captain Eoin Morgan adjudicated leg-before wicket.
The second match of the three-match series will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
Scores in brief:
England 131-6, 16.1 overs (Tom Banton 71, Dawid Malan 23; Imad Wasim 2-31, Shadab Khan 2-33, Iftikhar Ahmed 1-7)
Result: Match abandoned due to rain
