KARACHI – Middle-order batters Harry Brook and Ben Duckett smashed robust maiden half centuries to lift England to 221-3 in the third Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Karachi on Friday.
Brook scored a 35-ball 81 not out while Duckett cracked an unbeaten 42-ball 69 after Pakistan won the toss and sent England in to bat at the National stadium.
The seven-match series is tied at 1-1 after England won the first fixture by six wickets while Pakistan took the second by ten wickets, both in Karachi.
Debutant Will Jacks set the platform for England with a sparkling 20-ball 40 with eight boundaries before Brook and Duckett took the attack to the Pakistan bowlers.
Brook cracked five sixes and eight boundaries while Duckett hit a six and eight boundaries as the pair added 139 runs off just 69 balls — a record fourth wicket stand for England in all T20Is.
For Pakistan, leg-spinner Usman Qadir was the pick of the bowlers with 2-48 while pacer Shahnawaz Dahani went for 62 runs in his four wicket-less overs.
England are on their first tour of Pakistan since 2005.
The remaining matches are in Karachi (Sunday) and Lahore (September 28, 30 and October 2).
