Archer finds his feet in return for England side
Pace bowler Jofra Archer claimed two wickets on his long-awaited return to international cricket to help England beat Pakistan by 23 runs in a Twenty20 at Edgbaston yesterday.
This was Archer’s first appearance on the international stage in 14 months, but he had not played for his country on English soil since 2020 after an injury-hit few years.
He bounced back from an expensive first over which went for 15 runs to finish with 2-28 and help England dismiss Pakistan for 160 in pursuit of 184.
England’s 183-7 was largely down to a blistering half-century from captain Jos Buttler, who struck three sixes on his way to 84 before a collapse of five wickets for 25 runs left the door open for Pakistan.
Fakhar Zaman ensured Pakistan made a strong start to their chase with 45 off 21 balls, but Reece Topley picked up three wickets and Moeen Ali and Archer claimed two each.
They helped England begin their T20 World Cup preparations with a victory after Thursday’s washout in Leeds.
Buttler resisted the temptation to open the bowling with Archer and went with Ali, which paid off when Mohammad Rizwan picked out Liam Livingstone at midwicket to depart for a duck.
England were well on top when Topley claimed Saim Ayub from his second over, but it brought Fakhar to the crease.
While Fakhar edged his first delivery over Ali in the slips, it sparked a run of fours from each of his first five deliveries.
Archer was given the ball and Fakhar reminded him how brutal international cricket can be.
After Babar Azam hit Archer’s second delivery back over his head for four, Fakhar finished the over with a ramp shot for six as Pakistan ended the powerplay on 55-2.
With the match in the balance, Buttler turned to Ali and Adil Rashid, who silenced a partisan Pakistandominated crowd.
Ali claimed the decisive wicket of Babar for 32 when he pinned him in front lbw and Rashid backed it up with the dismissal of Shadab Khan.
Pakistan reached the midway point on 80-4 before Archer got in on the act. His first delivery of his second spell was pitched up, clocked 145km/ h and accounted for wicketkeeper Azam Khan, who spliced to Ali at cover.
England’s stranglehold increased when Fakhar’s scintillating innings concluded after he skied Livingstone to the onrushing Harry Brook at midon.
Archer return for another oneover spell, which brought about the wicket of Imad Wasim. Topley finished the job when Shaheen Afridi slog-swept to Phil Salt to give Topley figures of 3-41.
Pakistan captain Babar earlier made Archer wait for his chance with the ball when he put England in to bat, but Buttler signalled his intent with two scorching fours down the ground off Shaheen’s second over.
The early introduction of left-arm spinner Imad accounted for Salt cheaply, but Will Jacks joined forces with Buttler and took 15 runs off Haris Rauf, which included a sumptuous drive for the first six of the day.
Jacks impressed and put on 71 with Buttler before Rauf ended his fine knock on 37 to deny him a maiden T20 fifty.
Buttler had already targeted legspinner Shadab by this point, and after he reached his half-century with a wonderful ramp shot off Rauf, the England captain accelerated.
A reverse sweep for another maximum proved the catalyst for Shadab’s final over to go for 20 runs, but the host’s momentum was checked when Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal on 144-2 sparked a collapse.
England lost their next five wickets for 25 runs and that allowed Archer to produce an unexpected cameo of 12 not out to set 184 to win, which proved too many for Pakistan.
England lead the four-match series 1-0. The third match is on Wednesday in Cardiff.
Latrell Mitchell has confirmed he is available for NSW State of Origin selection if he avoids a ban for a hipdrop tackle in South Sydney’s 42-26 win over Parramatta.
The centre of debate over his Origin availability for the past month, Mitchell was sin-binned for a tackle on Eels centre Sean Russell just before halftime on Saturday.
The Rabbitohs superstar appeared perplexed when told by referee Chris Butler he would be binned, with the tackle not a typical hip-drop motion.
The incident came hours before new Blues coach Michael Maguire was to name a 20-man squad for the June 5 series opener at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
There had been suggestions earlier this year Mitchell would not make himself available for selection, in a bid to help save Souths’ ailing season.
But he and interim Rabbitohs coach Ben Hornby confirmed on Saturday night Mitchell is happy to be picked, as he battles to reclaim the left-centre spot for the Blues.
“All our players are available. If NSW want them, they’re there,” Hornby interjected when Mitchell was asked in the post-match press conference if he was available for selection.
“I’m expecting Latrell and Cody (Walker) to make the team. They’re good enough players and they’ve shown before they should make the team.
“I know who I wouldn’t want to be playing against if I was playing.”
Mitchell responded to Hornby’s comments, saying “100 per cent”.
Souths’ victory moved them equal with Wests Tigers on the bottom of the ladder with two wins, but behind on for-andagainst.
It also compounded the Eels’ week from hell after coach Brad Arthur’s sacking, with Parramatta’s loss their seventh in eight games.
But it is Mitchell who will be grabbing the headlines.
The Souths No 1 has not played for NSW since he was close to their best in 2021’s series win. Injuries ruled him out for the next two years.
The 26-year-old looks to be in a battle with Jesse Ramien, Zac Lomax and Matt Burton to be named at left centre.
Sin bin aside, he impressed while captaining South Sydney for the first time this year.
The No 1 made an early kick return of close to 25 metres, pulled off a one-on-one strip late and set up second-half tries with a towering bomb and grubber kick while filling in at five-eighth for a concussed Jack Wighton.
He also provided a cut-out ball for Alex Johnston to score his 190th career try in the first half, leaving the winger level with Billy Slater in second spot on the all-time charts.
The Rabbitohs led 22-0 after 28 minutes and looked set to put on a cricket score.
Parramatta were able to claw their way back to 22-16 early in the second half with Mitchell off the field as possession evened out.
But Souths were able to hold on for a win, with Mitchell’s play at fiveeighth helping them kick clear again.
“We just made it too hard for ourselves to chase 22 points, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing,” Eels interim coach Trent Barrett said.
“We invited them into the games at the start with two unforced errors from our back five.”
It was in the equivalent match last year that the Rabbitohs’ season began to unravel: they entered Indigenous Round in first place before being beaten by the Eels.
In the 12 months since, they have won only six games and lost 18, going from top to bottom and losing coach Jason Demetriou along the way.