Banton shine in a rain hit opening T20 between Pak vs Eng

Manchester: The opening T20 match between Pakistan and England was a casuality before the intermittent rainfall. Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and put the host into bat. 

An early blow by Imad wasim left England at 3-1 as Johnny Bairstow was out early. Later stylish England Wicketkeeper Tom Banton and David Malan build a partnership of 71 runs and seeing off lethal Shaheen Afridi and Md. Amir in the powerplay. After Malan was run out of a goof up. The wicket kept falling at regular interval.

When the play was stopped due to rain, England was 131-6 in 16.1 overs.Later It was raining cats and dogs and there was no condition of resuming the play.The next match of the three t20i series will be played on 30th August.(WD)