Pakistan vs England 2nd T20: England win thriller despite Afridi fireworks

Paceman Chris Woakes held his nerve in the final over to give England a hard-fought three-run win in the second Twenty20 international over Pakistan in Dubai on Friday. Woakes conceded just seven runs in the 20th over to restrict Pakistan to 169-8 and help England defend a 173-run target to give his team an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at Dubai stadium. The 24,000 fans, mostly expats from Pakistan, had expected their team to pull off a sensational win after skipper Shahid Afridi smashed a blistering eight-ball 24 with three sixes and a boundary. But Anwar Ali failed to connect on the last delivery off which Pakistan had needed four for victory. Afridi took 22 off the 18th over by Woakes but his dismissal on the last ball left Pakistan to score 25 off the last two overs. Pakistan's batsmen were once again reckless as most of them got good starts but failed to capitalise. Ahmed Shehzad top-scored with an 18-ball 28 with two fours and as many sixes. Mohammad Hafeez made 25, Raffatullah Mohmand scored 23, Shoaib Malik managed 26 off 21 balls while talented Umar Akmal managed just three and Sohaib Maqsood only two. England paceman Liam Plunkett bowled with fire and venom to finish with 3-33 while leg-spinner Adil Rashid grabbed 2-18 in his four probing overs. England won the first match - also in Dubai - by 14 runs. The final match is in Sharjah on Monday. England were lifted to 172-8 by a quickfire 24-ball 38 by James Vince and 22-ball-33 by skipper Jos Buttler as they upped the tempo by notching 58 in the last five overs. Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi, who took 3-15 in his four overs, derailed the England batting after they looked well-set at 32-0 in the fourth over. Afridi trapped Alex Hales leg before for 11 and then had Jason Roy caught behind for 22-ball 29 (two sixes and a four) to leave England at 47-2. Joe Root made 20 before Buttler and Vince lifted England with a 35-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Afridi returned for his last over to have Vince caught in the deep. Vince hit two sixes and three boundaries. His wicket was Afridi's 86th in as many matches, beating countryman Saeed Ajmal (85 wickets in 64 matches) as the highest wicket-taker in all Twenty20 cricket. Buttler smashed three sixes and a boundary to give England a challenging total to defend. England, who won the first match by 14 runs in Dubai on Thursday, rested skipper Eoin Morgan in one of four changes to their side. Pakistan brought back Shehzad and Malik in place of Mohammad Rizwan and Imran Khan Junior. Thriller England clinched a thriller to win by three runs in the second Twenty20 International to seal the T20 series 2-0 at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday. Needing 173 to win, Pakistan rode into contention when skipper Shahid Afridi smashed 24 off just eight deliveries including three sixes and a boundary. But after he succumbed the lower order batsmen could not finish the job as Pakistan lost by three runs. Ahmed Shehzad (23), Rafatullah Mohmand (23), Mohammad Hafeez (25) and Shoaib Malik (26) all provided good start to the chase. Earlier batting first, James Vince top scored with 38 while Jos Buttler struck 33 as England reached a challening 172 for eight in 20 overs. Jason Roy (29) and Joe Root (20) were the other crucial scorers. For Pakistan, skipper Afridi was the key bowler scalping three wickets in his four overs giving away only 15 runs. Anwar Ali took two. PAKISTAN INNINGS Pakistan lose another wicket at a crucial time as Sarfraz is bowled when he attempted to scoop Woakes. Pak 162-8 in 19.1 overs. Sarfraz Ahmed b Woakes 20 (13b 1x4 0x6) Big wicket for England as Afridi is out. He was on a rampage hammering 24 off just eight deliveries. England now have the edge. Pak 148-7 in 18 overs. Shahid Afridi c Plunkett b Woakes 24 (8b 1x4 3x6) It's a tough one for Pakistan but Afridi is still around. Malik departs scoring a fighting 26 from 21 balls. Pak 120-6 in 16.4 overs. Shoaib Malik c Billings b Plunkett 26 (21b 1x4 1x6) Akmal was unlucky as he is given caught behind despite not having a connection with the bat. Akmal clearly not happy there. Pak 107-5 in 14.3 overs. Umar Akmal c Buttler b Plunkett 3 (5b 0x4 0x6) Pakistan seem to be losing the advantage as they lose another wicket. Maqsood is bowled by Rashid. Pak 93-4 in 12.3 overs. Sohaib Maqsood b Rashid 2 (6b 0x4 0x6) afeez gets a leading edge as England pick their third wicket. Pak 90-3 in 11.2 overs. Mohammad Hafeez c Willey b Plunkett 25 (20b 3x4 1x6) England pick their second wicket as Rafatullah Mohmand is out. Pak 60-2 in 8.1 overs. Rafatullah Mohmand st Buttler b Rashid 23 (24b 3x4 0x6) Amazing bowling by Parry as he gets Shehzad stumped. Steps out for a big one but misses it completely. Pak 51-1 in 5 overs. Ahmed Shehzad st Buttler b Parry 28 (18b 2x4 2x6) Amazing over for Pakistan as 16 runs come off it. Shehzad on 20 from 13 deliveries. Pak 30-0 in 3 overs. Shehzad and Fafatullah open for Pakistan. Willey bowls. ENGLAND INNINGS Good l