England 's young guns took centre stage with the bat as Harry Brook, Ben Duckett and Will Jacks all starred in the 63 run win over Pakistan, while the returning Mark Wood and Reece Topley made an instant impact with the ball.
Brook, Duckett and Jacks had just nine T20I caps between them heading into this match, but showcased their immense talent and potential to guide England to an imposing total of 221-3. Debutant Jacks got England off to a flyer with a quick-fire 40 off 22 balls, while Brook and Duckett shared England's highest partnership of the series so far.
They both struck their first T20I half-centuries, with Brook bringing up his off just 24 balls and Duckett reaching the milestone off 31 balls. They put on 139 runs together from 72 balls, with Brook blast 81 not out off 35 and Duckett striking an unbeaten 70 off 42.
It was some brilliant, clinical hitting from England and further underlined the amazing depth they have in their white ball batting reserves. However, after Pakistan managed to chase down 200 in the previous match without losing a single wicket, England needed their bowlers to step up and defend 221.
They had strengthened the bowling, with Topley and Wood returning to the side. And the pair proved to be difference makers for England, removing Pakistan's dangerous opening pair inside the powerplay, two massive wickets given they guided their side to victory on Thursday.
First, Wood bounced out captain Babar Azam in his very first over, getting him caught at third man for just eight. Topley then followed it up by bowling Mohammad Rizwan in the very next over, deceiving him with a slower ball and sending him packing for eight. Shan Masood struck an impressive half-century, finishing with 66 off 40, but it was too little too late for Pakistan.
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Jacks impresses on debut
The 23-year-old has enjoyed an impressive year in the T20 Blast and The Hundred, having struck 449 runs at an average of 32.07 for Surrey and 261 at 43.50 for Oval Invincibles. And that form has been rewarded with an England debut, with Jacks replacing Alex Hales for the third T20I.
It was a very impressive debut for the youngster, who scored a fluent 40 off 22 that contained eight boundaries. Jacks has long been tipped as a future international star and, with the next T20 World Cup set to take place in 2024, he will surely be part of England's squad.
"A really good, impressive start on debut," former England captain Nasser Hussain said on Sky Sports about Jacks' innings. "He'll be disappointed walking off, but he played really well."
Salt struggles in Hales' absence
Salt and Hales are involved in a shootout to see who will partner captain Jos Buttler at the World Cup, with Hales stealing an early march after striking an excellent half-century in the first T20I. However, Salt was handed an extra opportunity to impress in this match, with Hales rested and Jacks replacing him at the top of the order.
But the 26-year-old was unable to make the most of his chance, making just eight off six as he was dismissed by Hasnain. Salt has yet to find his best form in this series, having scored 47 runs at an average of 16.00 and a strike rate of just 117.64.
However, Salt will be much better suited playing in Australian conditions at the World Cup which will be less conducive to spin, having been largely tied down by Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Qadir this series. He strikes at 155.97 against pace in T20s as opposed to 136.63 against spin and has a much better record in Australia's Big Bash (671 runs at 146.50) than in the Pakistan Super League (204 runs at 118.60).
Brook a shoo-in for the World Cup?
When England's World Cup squad was announced, Brook looked likely to be the spare middle order batter with the likes of Malan, Stokes, Livingstone and Moeen ahead of him in the pecking order.
However, with Stokes and Livingstone missing this series, Brook has made a truly compelling case that he deserves a spot in the starting XI in Australia. He played impressive knocks of 42 and 31 in the first two games, before blasting a stunning 81 not out off 35 in the third match.
It was such a brilliant innings that Hussain declared Brook "must bat at number five" for England in their first World Cup game and it is hard to argue with his assessment. And with Stokes providing another all-round option, England can certainly afford to include Brook as an extra batter with Stokes, Moeen and Livingstone all able to contribute with the ball.
Duckett continues to star
Another player who has made the most of his opportunities in the middle order with Stokes and Livingstone absent, Duckett has particularly impressed against the spinners. His 43 in the second game laid a good platform for Brook and Moeen to finish it and style and he shared a magnificent partnership with Brook in this game.
The pair put on 139 runs for the fourth wicket, with Duckett ending unbeaten with 70 off 42. He is averaging 67 in this series and is making a very strong case for inclusion in England's squad for next year's 50-over World Cup.
With Stokes and Eoin Morgan retired from ODI cricket, England need a left-handed batter in the middle order. And with the next World Cup taking place in India, Duckett's prowess against spin will make him a valuable asset - he strikes at 148.36 against spin in T20 cricket.
"Ben Duckett played magnificently and again he completely and utterly befuddled the slow bowlers of Pakistan," former England batter Mark Butcher told Sky Sports. "He's doing a great little audition for himself to play in subcontinental World Cups as the years go by."
Wood's deadly return
The England quick played his first game in more than six months after picking up an elbow injury during the Test series against the West Indies in March. His return is a massive boost for England ahead of the World Cup, with his ability to bowl express pace a real point of difference with Jofra Archer still out of action.
And he made an immediate impact, removing Babar in his very first over. It was a huge wicket in the context of the match given Babar had struck a match winning hundred in the previous game and it was Wood's pace which proved a difference maker for England with the delivery clocked at 95mph.
Stunningly, he was able to crank up the pace even further, with the ball that picked up his second wicket clocked at 97mph by the speed gun. It was a brilliant return for the 32-year-old, who picked up figures of 3-25 from his full quota and will be a massive threat on the fast, bouncy pictures in Australia at the World Cup.
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