England in Pakistan: Phil Salt stars as tourists level Twenty20 series

Phil Salt hit an impressive 88 from 41 balls as England beat Pakistan by eight runs in the sixth Twenty20 international.

Salt smashed his way to a 19-ball half-century, the third fastest by an Englishman in T20 internationals, as the tourists leveled the series with one to play.

The manner in which England knocked off the runs was remarkable despite the fact that it was a good toss for England to win.

Salt hit 13 fours and three sixes and England were able to cruise to their target with 33 balls to spare.

Babar Azam, Pakistan's captain, made an impressive 87 from 59 balls, but lacked support.

After restricting Pakistan to 169-6, it became apparent that England's trio of left-seamers would not be enough.

"We almost killed the game off right away because of the way we batting," said Moeen.

It shows you don't have to keep going. The shots were correct.

Everybody did a really good job. The series is 3-3 and I think it's been a great series so far. There is an exciting game in the last one.

The teams will stay in Pakistan for the decider.

Classy Babar matches Kohli record

The onus was on Babar to take the side to a competitive total after Pakistan lost their leading run- scorer in the series, Mohammad Rizwan.

He scored comfortably in excess of a run a ball, seemingly playing risk-free cricket while also anchoring the team to a perfect score.

When he was on 24, the closest England came to dismissing him was via a run out.

The stands of 47 and 48 were cut short by Curran who took 2-26 from his four overs.

After easing to a 27th T20I fifty from 41 balls, the opener lofted the ball back over Richard Gleeson's head to go past 3000 runs in the format.

It was Babar's 81st century, making him the fastest to the milestone, along with India's talismanic player.

Babar kept his elegance even as he went through the gears as the game went on.

England's top order almost put the game out of Pakistan's reach before the end of the powerplay.

Salt makes his case for World Cup selection

England's top order has not fired as they would have liked in the first five matches, even though Pakistan's opening pair has piled on the runs.

Salt and Alex Hales put on a show in the opening stand.

Salt cut Mohammad Nawaz for four from the first ball of the chase and after 17 balls, seven fours and two sixes, the fifty partnership was up.

Hales was hitting the ball as cleanly as his partner, hitting Mohammad Wasim for three consecutive fours to end a third over costing 22 runs, before falling in the fourth.

Salt was not going to be loosened up. His strength over the years has been through the leg side but there is much more to his game now and he moved to punish the Pakistan bowlers through the covers and down the ground as well.

The hundred was up for England at the end of the seventh over when Salt pulled Aamer Jamal over the fine leg fence for six.

At that stage, the game was over as a contest and although Salt and Malan added to Pakistan's misery with a couple of big overs, the latter's dismissal led to a relatively quiet end to the game.

Salt was left to push the winning run into the covers but with the start of the Twenty20 World Cup less than a month away, it will give the selectors pause for thought as they deliberate between Salt and Hales for a place

Salt said that it was nice to do it when the series was in the balance.

I'm very thankful for the support I have from my team-mates and the management. They want me to play in a certain way.