Cricket

PAK vs ENG 2022: Three years felt like forever, says Alex Hales after scoring fifty on return

England’s talismanic batter Alex Hales made a resounding comeback as he scored a fine knock of 53 runs off 40 balls in the first T20I against Pakistan at the National Stadium, Karachi on Tuesday. Hales’ knock helped England win by six wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Back in 2019, Hales was banned for recreational drug use and since then could not return to the national team due to a falling out with former skipper Eoin Morgan. The right-hander admitted that he was nervous and it felt like he was making his debut again.

“It was a very special feeling to be back on the park for England,” Hales said after the game.

“Three years felt like forever. To go out and score 50 on my return in a winning team is the stuff dreams are made of,” the batter further added.

“It is a nice feeling. Guys said in the past it was never down to cricket, missing the three years, that was never in doubt. But there was always nerves and pressure coming back after three years having not played. It felt like a debut again, so it was a very special night,” Hales concluded.

On the other hand, Babar Azam was disappointed as he feels they could not capitalise on the good start, which he and Mohammad Rizwan provided to the team.

The Pakistan openers added 85 runs in the first 9.3 overs but the middle order, which has been the team’s concern in the recent past, could not deliver the goods. The hosts could only manage 158 runs on the board, which proved to be a below par score.

Azam said in the post-match presentation, “We utilised the batting powerplay well, but we let the momentum slip after the 10th over. Credit to their bowlers, but we were not up to the mark and we didn’t get the partnerships. They worked out the conditions well, but our batters should have done better. We’re trying different combinations before the World cup, we’ll test our bench strength and then go to the tournament with our best team.”

The second T20I between Pakistan and England will be played at the same venue on Thursday.

About the Author


Written by DafaNews

DafaNews brings you the most highlighted news in the world of Sports. It serves you up-to-date matches, scores, live streams, fantasy games and quizzes. Our news covers India's prestigious leagues and events – Premier League, Pro Kabbadi League, Cricket World Cup and many more. Follow DafaNews on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,Telegram and Youtube for more updates.

Related Post
Share
Published by
DafaNews

Recent Posts

India Falls to Chile in Shootout After 2–2 Draw at Four Nations Junior Women’s Hockey Tournament

The Indian junior women’s hockey team suffered a narrow defeat against Chile in a tense… Read More

May 30, 2025

Shreyas Iyer’s Misjudged Aggression Costs Punjab Kings in Qualifier Blowout

Punjab Kings’ journey to the IPL 2025 final suffered a massive blow after a disappointing… Read More

May 30, 2025

Harry Maguire Hopes to See Indian Talent in Premier League, Backs Grassroots Football Initiatives

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has expressed optimism about the future of Indian football, stating… Read More

May 30, 2025

Salt’s blazing fifty helps RCB crush PBKS in record-breaking playoff win

Nine years after their last appearance in an IPL final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the… Read More

May 30, 2025

Josh Hazlewood opens up on playing in IPL before WTC Final, says he is got to be bowling

Royal Challengers Bengaluru fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has said playing in the IPL is not… Read More

May 30, 2025