Morgan plays captain's knock as England beat Pakistan in T20

CARDIFF: England captain Eoin Morgan led his side to a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in a lone Twenty20 international in Cardiff on Sunday with an unbeaten innings of 57.

Test skipper Joe Root made 47 and James Vince 36 as England overhauled Pakistan´s total of 173 for six with four balls to spare at Sophia Gardens.

It was England´s second victory in three days after their one-day international success away to Morgan´s native Ireland in Dublin on Friday as they continued an encouraging start to a season that sees them staging both the 50-over World Cup and the Ashes.

England fast bowler Jofra Archer also continued his push for a World Cup call-up by taking two for 29.

"Jofra came on from the game in Ireland, he showed a lot more what he´s about," said Morgan. "It´s another debut and they don´t always go well. The majority of the time they don´t.

"He and the other bowlers will have the opportunity to show what they can do (in the one-day series against Pakistan)."

"But it´s been a while, before the Ireland game, that he´s played 50-over cricket, and we´re conscious of not over-bowling him," he added.

Vince´s attractive innings ended when he was caught down the legside by Pakistan captain and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed off Imad Wasim, but Morgan kept the runs coming, taking 14 off three successive balls from medium-pacer Faheem Ashraf.

And even when Sarfraz caught Root, there was little danger to England´s hopes of victory, with Morgan hitting five fours and three sixes in his 29-ball stay.

Earlier, there was a bizarre incident at when the ground gave way beneath England´s David Willey as the seamer was just about to make his delivery stride.

Fortunately for England, Willey avoided serious injury.

Babar Azam (65) and Haris Sohail (50) shared a stand of 103 after Pakistan had been 31 for two following Sarfraz´s decision to bat first on a green-tinged pitch.

Haris hit Chris Jordan for six and Babar struck successive sixes off spinner Joe Denly before completing a 31-ball fifty.

Pakistan then saw both their well-set batsmen fall in quick succession with Barbados-born Archer, renowned for his form in T20 franchise cricket, removing Haris before he ran out Babar.

"We were about 10-12 runs short," said Sarfraz, ahead of Wednesday´s ODI opener at The Oval. "Eoin Morgan and Joe Root batted well and we were always struggling after that."