Cricket: Bairstow lifts England to 150-7 in 2nd T20

DUBAI: A maiden half century by Jonny Bairstow steered England to a challenging 150 runs for seven wickets in the second Twenty20 International against Pakistan here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

England were reeling on 49-3 when Bairstow came to rescue after England captain Stuart Broad won the toss and elected to bat first.

The 22-year-old right-hander made an unbeaten 60 off 46 balls studded with five boundaries and two sixes.

Bairstow, who made his debut last year, improved on his unbeaten 22 he made during England's eight-run defeat in the first match here on Thursday, opened up with a four off Shahid Afridi and hit a six in the leg-spinner's next to lift the scoring rate.

Bairstow added 39 for the fifth wicket with Samit Patel (13) and then hit Umar Gul for a six before the bowler finished with 2-31.

England got off to a flying start, making 35 by the fifth over before Pakistan hit back by dismissing Kevin Pietersen (17), Ravi Bopara (one) and Eoin Moran (nine) in the space of 14 runs.

Bairstow and opener Craig Kieswetter (31) added 30 for the fourth wicket as Pakistan bowled well in the middle overs.

For Pakistan, paceman Umar Gul claimed two wickets for 31 while all other bowlers took one wicket each except Shoaib Malik who conceded ten runs in his only over.

Pakistan made one change from the first match which they won by eight runs here on Thursday, bringing in paceman Aizaz Cheema in place of Junaid Khan .

England, on the other side, remained unchanged.