Tom Banton, who will be playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2020, blasted 71 off 42 balls but the T20I between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford was abandoned due to rain. The second match of the T20I series will also be played in Manchester but the weather is expected to be fine on the day match.
Tom Banton unleashed his unique style of batting and gave his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders plenty to cheer about in the upcoming IPL 2020 as he blasted 71 off 42 balls in the first Twenty20 International between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester on Friday. Banton blasted four boundaries and five sixes as he notched up an aggressive fifty but the match was marred by rain and the first match ended up being a no result due to persistent rain.
England were inserted in to bat and they were immediately in trouble when Jonny Bairstow was dismissed in the first over by Imad Wasim. Banton got going with a boundary of Shaheen Afridi but he was gifted a life when Iftikhar Ahmed dropped him at first slip. Pakistan kept things tight in the powerplay and although Banton hit another four off Mohammad Amir, England managed only 34/1 in the first six overs. When the spinners came on, Banton decided to open up and England’s run-rate achieved a steady spike in the middle overs.
Banton against spin
The tall right-hander, who was initially a hockey player, began in style by slog sweeping legspinner Shadab Khan for a big six over deep midwicket. Banton started showing his class by unfurling the paddle scoop off Haris Rauf.
Banton hammered two more sixes off Shadab and he reached his fifty off 33 balls with Eoin Morgan giving him good support by starting off with a four and a six. In the 12th over bowled by Rauf, Banton showed his class and unfurled the scoop twice as he hit a boundary and a six to fine leg. However, the fun ended for the right hand batsman as he was caught at midoff in attempting to slog sweep Shadab again. With his dismissal, England lost wickets at regular intervals with Morgan being trapped LBW by Iftikhar while Shadab accounted for Moeen Ali. Imad Wasim dismissed Lewis Gregory but in the 17th over, the rain came. The rain lashed Old Trafford for an hour and the groundstaff worked hard to get the outfield in shape but in the end, too much damage was done and the match was abandoned. The second match will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
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