Record stand inspires England T20 win against Pakistan

(BBC) An unbroken stand of 112 between Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen saw England beat world champions Pakistan by seven wickets in the Twenty20 international.

Pakistan were limited to 11 fours and two sixes in 129-8, Stuart Broad taking 2-23 and holding three fine catches.

England slipped to 18-3 in the fifth over but the fourth-wicket pair shared their team’s highest T20 partnership.

Pietersen made 43 and Morgan ended the match with a six in 67 from 51 balls as England won with nine deliveries left.

It was a superb display from England, having been beaten by their second-string Lions team on Wednesday.

The ultra-modern 25,000-seater stadium in Dubai is a superb venue for Pakistan whilst they are unable to play in their homeland because of security fears, but the pitch did not appear to be to their liking as the match began in twilight at 1800 local time.

They had made 161-8 against New Zealand, the highest Twenty20 total at the ground, with the average at 140, but 129-8 was their second lowest total in the shortest format.

This may have been more because of the new-look line-up, however, featuring only five of the victorious World Twenty20 team at Lord’s eight months ago.

And England were also excellent in the field, and after two accurate overs combined with swing from Ryan Sidebottom, and another steady over from Tim Bresnan, Broad struck with his fourth delivery.

Imran Nazir could never find his touch and there was an air of desperation about his mistimed pull shot at a lifting ball from Broad.

Morgan has excelled in the one day format for some time, and Bangladesh would be the perfect place for him to start his Test career.

When Bresnan returned, Imran Farhat flicked successive boundaries into the leg side but attempting a quick single to mid-off he underestimated the sprightliness of Pietersen, who threw down the stumps off balance with a superb direct hit.