ENG vs PAK, 1st T20I: Banton Stars With Whirlwind 71-Run Knock Before Rain Abandons Series Opener At Manchester

English opener Tom Banton was the show stopper as he stroked his way to a scintillating 71-run knock to spearhead the hosts batting efforts before umpired called off play due as the rain made the outfield too wet to continue.

It was not the ideal start for both England and Pakistan in the 3-match T2OI series opener at Old Trafford in Manchester as rain forced the game to get abandoned and ensured no definitive result. English opener Tom Banton was the show stopper as he stroked his way to a scintillating 71-run knock to spearhead the hosts batting efforts before umpired called off play due as the rain made the outfield too wet to continue. Banton was particularly severe on spinner Shadab Khan as he took him on in his very first over and tonked two sixes off him. In all, Banton struck five sixes in his knock as England posted 131-6 in 16.1 overs before rain again played spoil sport. Batting first after winning the toss, England received an early blow as they lost opener Jonny Bairstow to the fifth ball of the match. However, fellow opener Banton counterattacked with David Malan to steady the English innings and take them towards a competitive total before the umpires eventually called off play at just past 9 pm local time due to an extremely wet outfield. Banton's 42-ball whirlwind knock propelled England's stuttering innings as Pakistan continued to make inroads with their bowlers bagging four wickets for 14 runs. Spinners Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan both claimed two victims each while Iftikhar Ahmed trapped skipper Eoin Morgan lbw. Meanwhile, Dawid Malan was run out for 23. The second match in the 3-match T20 series will be played again at the Old Trafford cricket ground on Sunday.