Pakistan crush Scotland, win series 2-0

Shoaib Malik blasted 49 not out in 22 balls as Pakistan crushed Scotland by 84 runs in the second T20 International at Grange Cricket Club, Raeburn Place, Edinburgh on Wednesday. Pakistan claimed the series 2-0. Malik hit 5 sixes and a four (he had hit 5 sixes in the first T20I as well). The onslaught was built on a platform laid by Fakhar Zaman (33 in 25 balls) and Ahmed Shehzad (24 in 22), who added 60 for the first wicket in 44 balls. The middle-order did not really contribute, but Malik powered Pakistan to 166 for 6. Michael Leask picked up 3 for 31 and Chris Sole 2 for 38.

Malik raced to 1,989 T20I runs, 6 more than Virat Kohli’s tally. Only Martin Guptill (2,271) and Brendon McCullum (2,140) have more T20I runs.

Then Usman Khan took 2 wickets with his first 8 balls (he finished with 2 for 4). Richie Berrington got a 15-ball 20, while Calum MacLeod, hero of the England ODI, ambled to a 27-ball 25, but Faheem Ashraf (3 for 5) got both. The rest did not really contribute, and Scotland were shot out for a mere 82 in 14.4 overs. The two run outs, of Safyaan Sharif and Mark Watt, did not really help.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 166 for 6 in 20 overs [Fakhar Zaman 33(25), Ahmed Shehzad 24(22), Shoaib Malik 49*(22); Chris Sole 4-0-38-2, Michael Leask 4-0-31-3] beat Scotland 82 in 14.4 overs [Richie Berrington 20(15), Calum MacLeod 25(27); Usman Khan 2-0-4-2, Faheem Ashraf 2.4-0-5-3] by 84 runs.

Man of the Match: Usman Khan.