After humiliation in the One-day International series, Pakistan launched the T20 International series against England in thumping style as Babar Azam led the visitors to a 31-run victory at Trent Bridge on Friday despite a blistering century from Liam Livingstone.
Skipper Babar hit 85 runs off 49 balls and shared an opening stand of 150 with Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan amassed a record T20 total of 232 for 6 after put into bat. Rizwan was equally ferocious as Babar and scored 63 runs from 41 deliveries.
Sohaib Maqsood (19 from 7 balls), Fakhar Zaman (26 from 8), and Mohamad Hafeez (24 from 10) were the other prominent batsmen as Pakistan eclipsed their previous highest T20 International score of 205 in 2018 and last April.
But Livingstone gave the hosts some hope with a 42-ball century, England´s quickest in a T20 international and the fifth fastest of all-time, hitting six fours and nine sixes.
However, he could not prevent Pakistan from going 1-0 up in the three-match series as England were bowled out for 201.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan claimed three scalps apiece.
Babar, fresh from a superb hundred in the third ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday, was in an elegant form. He hit eight fours and three sixes before he was caught behind off David Willey.
England soon found themselves in trouble as they were reduced to 69-3 in a frantic start to their chase with fast bowler Afridi taking a brilliant caught and bowled to dismiss David Malan on his way to 3-30 from his four overs.
Jason Roy´s rapid fifty kept England in the hunt before Livingstone, looking to establish himself in the England set-up, found his range with consecutive sixes off leg-spinner Shadab Khan.
Livingstone needed just 17 balls for his fifty before Shadab hit back by dismissing Roy.
England captain Eoin Morgan fell cheaply to leave the hosts looking to Livingstone.
The Lancashire all-rounder went to his hundred in style with a six before Khan had him caught in the deep.
England´s tail now had too much to do and Afridi ended the match when he bowled Matt Parkinson with four balls left in the game.
Shadab also put up an excellent performance in the field with 3 wickets conceding 52 runs, a catch, and a direct throw to run out Tom Curran.
Both sides face each other in the second match at Headingley on Sunday.
