DUBAI: Half-centuries from Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal helped Pakistan to a challenging 222 runs in the allotted 20 overs against England in the third One-day International here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
After captain Misbah-ul-Haq won his first toss in the four-match series and chose to bat, Pakistan were looking in trouble as they were reeling at 97 for five.
However, Umar Akmal and Afridi came to rescue and took Pakistan to 176 adding 79 runs for the sixth wicket partnership.
Umar made a patient 50 from 88 balls, hitting just one boundary while Afridi smashed 51 off 55 balls with three fours and a six.
But Pakistan, trailing 2-0 after losing the first two matches in Abu Dhabi, initially failed to improve their fortunes as they lost Azhar Ali (five), Mohammad Hafeez (29) and Misbah (one) in the space of just two runs.
Two of these wickets went to paceman Stuart Broad, who finished with 3-42, while the impressive Steven Finn added one to his early breakthrough of Imran Farhat (nine) in this pacemen domination period.
Finn - who took four wickets apiece in the first two matches after sitting out the Test series - finished with 3-24 off ten overs.
Shafiq (18) also added 46 for the fifth wicket with Umar before he was run out. Umar Gul made 27 not out to give some late momentum to the innings.
Broad returned for his second spell to dismiss Umar, caught by Samit Patel after hitting just one boundary.
Afridi followed four runs later when he failed to connect properly with a big drive off paceman James Anderson who finished with 2-52.
Pakistan were forced to leave out experienced batsman Younis Khan who was suffering from a fever. Left-arm spinner Andul Rehman was also left out from Wednesday's line-up and Asad Shafiq and Adnan Akmal were brought in.
England remained unchanged from the second match.
