Reigning champions England produced a fine all-round display as they beat Pakistan by seven wickets at The Oval on Thursday in their last competitive match before they begin the defence of their Twenty20 World Cup title.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England restricted Pakistan to a modest 157 after winning the toss, with leg-spinner Adil Rashid, the player-of-the-match taking 2-27 from his maximum four overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They then made a rapid start to their chase as Phil Salt (45) and skipper Jos Buttler (39) shared a blistering opening stand of 82 inside seven overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Harry Brook ended the game with a six off paceman Haris Rauf, the pick of the Pakistan attack with 3-38, as England finished on 158-6 to win with more than three overs to spare.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Victory gave England a 2-0 triumph in a four-match T20 series where games at Headingley and Cardiff were both washed out without a ball bowled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We have worked hard in training and there is a good feeling around the squad," Buttler told Sky Sports.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Buttler was leading England after his wife gave birth to the couple's third child following his dashing 84 in the hosts' 23-run win in the second T20 at Edgbaston.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It would have been nice to get two more games in to expose a few guys to different situations," Buttler added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"But we have really good experience in the group and a lot of guys have been playing in the IPL (Indian Premier League), so we are not short of cricket."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both England openers launched Naseem Shah for huge sixes before Salt holed out off Rauf for a quickfire 45.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Pakistan middle order must 'step up' -
\r\nEarlier, Pakistan had been well-placed at 59-0 after losing the toss at an overcast Oval.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But they slumped to 86-5, the collapse starting when captain Babar Azam was caught at slip for a brisk 36 off fast bowler Jofra Archer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It went well for five or six overs but then I got out," said Azam. "The middle order needs to step up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We need to sort out those things for the World Cup. We have a few injuries but there are a lot of positives. Our play is good in patches."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan were also undone by a disciplined England attack, with Rashid telling reporters: "As a unit I thought we bowled exceptionally well. I know they (Pakistan) got off to a great start, but that's T20 cricket."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rashid was also enthused by the sight of injury-prone quicks Archer and Mark Wood, who took wickets with sharp bouncers, bowling in tandem.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Jof and Woody, when you watch them bowl it is exciting," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Seeing the ball zip off the pitch, the keeper taking it really high and it's exciting to have two quality, world-class bowlers in our squad."<\/p>\r\n\r\n