SHARJAH: Paceman Chris Woakes starred for a second match in succession as he defended ten runs in the last over to help England win the third and final Twenty20 in a Super Over finish in Sharjah on Monday. Woakes conceded seven off the first two deliveries thanks to a six but managed to tie the game off the last ball as Pakistan faltered in the chase of a 155-run target. Pakistan then managed just three runs in the Super Over bowled by Chris Jordan, which England beat off just four balls for a 3-0 clean sweep of the series. The victory lifted England to fourth in the Twenty20 rankings while Pakistan, second before the series, fell to sixth. England won the first match by 14 runs and the second by three runs with Woakes defending 11 in the last over — both matches in Dubai. Pakistan was unlucky not to win the match after Shoaib Malik smashed a career best 54-ball 75 for his fourth Twenty20 half century and added a quickfire 63 off just 38 balls for the sixth wicket with Shahid Afridi, who made a 20-ball 29. Malik and Afridi joined company with Pakistan struggling at 65-5 as both took the attack to the English bowlers, much to the joy of a packed 16,000 stadium. Afridi smashed three sixes off his 20-ball innings before he was bowled by paceman David Willey, who finished with 3-36. Malik, whose previous best of 57 not out came against India at Banglaore in 2012, hit eight boundaries and two sixes but fell with just two needed for victory. Pakistan were struggling at 11-3 after losing opener Ahmed Shehzad (four), Mohammad Hafeez to another run out for one and Raffatullah Mohmand (nought) by the third over.Mohamamd Rizwan hit four boundaries in his 24 but he and Umar Akmal (four) fell in quick succession.
