Jos Buttler and Salt put on 82 for the first wicket, which included 25 runs off Naseem Shah’s second over, to put the hosts in total control before Jonny Bairstow finished the job with 28 not out to help England successfully chase down 158. It ensured Matthew Mott’s defending champions head to the Caribbean for the T20 World Cup after a much-needed series win, and the catalyst for this triumph in south London was an excellent team bowling display. 🏴 ENGLAND WIN! 🏴 World Cup preparation: complete 🤝 | — England Cricket (@englandcricket) Mark Wood impressed in his first white-ball appearance since November with a two-wicket haul and partnered the fit-again Jofra Archer, who crucially dismissed Babar Azam for 36.
Adil Rashid was arguably the star of the show in the field though after he picked up two for 27 and claimed two catches, while Liam Livingstone also produced an excellent double-wicket maiden to bowl out Pakistan for 157, which was always below-par. After Archer and Wood had sent down plenty of rapid deliveries, it was over to the England batters to provide fireworks and Salt made a trademark fast start. The Lancashire opener served notice of his intent with two fours from Naseem’s first over before he pulled Muhammad Amir into the crowd for six.
Even more devastation followed when Naseem went for 25 runs from Pakistan’s fifth over, with Salt able to launch him into the stand before Buttler took centre st.