Sarah Taylor's first fifty of the summer underpinned England women’s crushing 70-run win over Pakistan women at Loughborough before the tourists hit back with a dramatic one-run triumph in the second of today's two NatWest Twenty20 internationals.
Wicketkeeper-batter Taylor, who played in England's two one-day international defeats of the same opponents this week, hit 57 from 50 balls as the hosts posted 145 for seven after winning the toss in game one.
Taylor and captain Charlotte Edwards, who made 46 from 33 deliveries, shared a second-wicket stand of 57 until the latter was bowled by Javeria Rauf. T20I debutante Natalie Sciver chipped in with 19 before England lost late wickets, including Taylor, as they upped the ante.
Three economical breakthroughs from off-spinner Danni Wyatt, who opened the bowling and ended her second spell with 3-16 from four overs, and two scalps in an over from Natasha Farrant, en route to figures of 2-15 from four on debut, undermined Pakistan's reply.
Nahida Khan top-scored for the tourists with 28 not out and found herself promoted to an opening berth for the afternoon encounter, only to be bowled without scoring by Anya Shrubsole.
When the second of two Pakistani run-outs sent Bismah Maroof back to the pavilion, skipper Sana Mir strode to the crease with her side in trouble on 40 for four in the eighth over.
Mir proceeded to play the situation perfectly, amassing a calm, unbeaten 31 having built an ultimately decisive fifth-wicket stand of 55 with Nain Abidi - Pakistan's top-scorer despite falling five short of a deserved half-century.
Mir and Abidi's alliance provided the backbone of 116 for eight and Pakistan then made the most of an experimental England batting line-up, slow-left-armer Sadia Yousuf the pick of the visitors' attack with 3-22.
Pakistan appeared to be closing the game out in relative comfort before some belligerent late hitting from Arran Brindle - entering the fray at the unfamiliarly low position of number eight - set up a grandstand finish.
A brace of Brindle fours from the penultimate over left England needing 13 from the final set of six, which began in the worst possible fashion when Maroof bowled Shurbsole to make it 104 for nine.
A pair of singles meant the requirement was 11 from three and Brindle produced a maximum and a two before being run out looking to secure a tie off the final ball.