Jofra Archer took two wickets in his much-anticipated return to international cricket as England secured a 23-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston, going 1-0 up in the four-match T20 series.
England's captain, Jos Buttler, claimed the man-of-the-match title after scoring 84 runs off 51 balls, setting a target of 184 for the hosts. However, it was Archer's comeback that stood out, making a strong case for selection in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The fast bowler, who has been struggling with elbow injuries since playing a significant role in England's 2019 World Cup win, made an impressive return after 14 months. Despite an expensive first over, Archer finished with figures of 2 for 28, receiving high praise from Buttler who acknowledged the emotional significance of Archer's wickets for England.
Moeen Ali claimed Muhammad Rizwan's wicket in the first over, while Reece Topley took three wickets for 41 runs. Buttler shone in England's batting lineup, supported by Will Jacks' 37 and Jonny Bairstow's 21. However, England faltered after their strong start, losing five wickets for just 25 runs as Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi took 3-36.
Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, admitted that despite a valiant effort in their chase, they fell short of creating substantial partnerships, ultimately losing by 23 runs. Fakhar Zaman's quick-fire 45 off 21 balls provided momentum to Pakistan's innings, but England's bowlers, spearheaded by Archer, Topley, and Chris Jordan, proved too much for the visitors.
England now leads the series 1-0 after the first match was washed out on Wednesday. England scored 183-7 in 20 overs, while Pakistan managed 160 all out in 19.2 overs.
