In a match that ebbed and flowed until the final was over, Pakistan posted 164/9 after being sent to bat first. England eventually chased it down with two wickets in hand and five balls to spare, but the modest total always left the Pakistan bowlers with very little cushion on a surface that was fresh and authentic.
Shaheen Afridi talks about where Pakistan went wrong in the match
Afridi did not shy away from the turning point. The left-armer, who returned impressive figures of 4/30, admitted Pakistan’s inability to build a stable partnership during the middle stages of the innings cost them a potentially defendable total.
He emphasized the importance of a batsman placed at the crease through the middle overs – one who is able to rotate the strike and maintain the momentum. Instead, Pakistan lost wickets in clusters, grinding to a halt any rhythm they tried to build.
On a pitch that offered no early help to bowlers, Afridi felt a target in the 180-190 range would have been competitive. However, frequent layoffs prevented the team from accelerating at the right times. The lack of stability meant the team struggled to consistently score the eight to nine runs per over that are often the backbone of a successful T20 innings.
“I feel that in a wicket like this you need a partnership and you need a steady batsman in that position who can bat all the middle overs. But unfortunately we lost the wickets back to back, and that’s why we didn’t go for that 180-190 score,” said Afridi as quoted by GeoSuper.
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Afridi applauds Harry Brook’s blistering knock
While Afridi’s fiery spell brought Pakistan back into the match, England’s composure with the bat made the difference. Harry Brook anchored the chase with a brilliant century, demonstrating exactly the kind of approach Afridi believed Pakistan lacked.
Brook ran the attack efficiently, building partnerships and absorbing pressure even as wickets fell at the other end. His calm presence ensured England never strayed too far from the required pace. Afridi pointed out how England’s ability to keep a steady batsman at the crease during the middle overs tipped the balance. The contrast between the two batting approaches was clear: where Pakistan faltered, England consolidated.
“If you see, when England batted, Harry Brook stayed at the crease and rotated the strike and was just building partnerships. I think we missed this opportunity to build partnerships. A partnership means you have to have someone in the crease who can go for singles and twos. Throughout a T20 innings, you need those eight or nine runs in a row, if you want to build a partnership as well,” Afridi added.
The Pakistan pacer also acknowledged England’s bowling efforts and mentioned the leg-spinner Adil Rashid for his decisive spell. Rashid’s control and variations during the middle overs further tightened the screws and prevented Pakistan from launching a late surge.
“I think Adil Rashid bowled very well in the middle phase, so I think the credit goes to him too,” Afridi explained.
Despite the defeat, Afridi’s performance with the ball was a silver lining. His four-wicket haul, including Brook’s prized scalp, showed his return to rhythm at a crucial stage of the tournament. But even that individual brilliance couldn’t compensate for the team’s collective shortcomings with the bat.
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