England v Pakistan: Tom Banton shines before rain ruins first T20

Tom Banton introduced himself on the worldwide stage with an exhilarating 71 off 42 balls before rain washed out England’s first Twenty20 towards Pakistan at Emirates Outdated Trafford.

His departure was the first of 4 wickets to fall for 14 runs, shortly before rain intervened with England 131-6 after 16.1 overs.

Play was deserted at 21:00 BST, though higher climate is forecast for the second T20 of the three-match sequence on the identical floor on Sunday.

That recreation will likely be proven reside on BBC One at 13:45, the return of reside cricket to the BBC for the first time in 21 years.

Banton dazzles amid England wrestle

One of the crucial devastating limited-overs batsmen on the county circuit, Banton had a solitary fifty to indicate from his opening 9 video games for England in one-day and T20 cricket.

There was little early on in Manchester to recommend he would buck that pattern, put down by Iftikhar Ahmed – a regulation likelihood at slip – on 5 and struggling for timing on a two-paced pitch after seeing Jonny Bairstow drill the fifth supply of the sport again to Imad Wasim.

That England’s first 50 runs took 49 balls – their slowest begin for the reason that final T20 World Cup – mirrored Banton and Dawid Malan’s lack of fluency.

The following 50 got here off solely 19 deliveries, thanks largely to Banton’s brilliance.

If three leg-side sixes off leg-spinner Shadab Khan demonstrated his attain and energy, the informal ramp over positive leg for six off Haris Rauf, Pakistan’s quickest bowler, demonstrated his vary of stroke and astonishing hand-eye co-ordination.

Having been concerned in a mix-up that left Malan stranded mid-pitch and run out for 23, Banton skied a forefront to cowl as he aimed throughout the road within the 13th over.

Eoin Morgan was lbw on the sweep to Iftikhar moments later, Moeen Ali was caught behind making an attempt to chop Shadab, and Lewis Gregory was stumped advancing to Imad.

The affect of England’s slide from 109-2 to 123-6 was such that they’ll arguably have been the happier of the edges when rain arrived at 19:20.