Chasing 201 runs to win HeadingleyThe Pakistan openers got off to a good start with the bat but lost their way after England pacer Shakib Mahmood dismissed skipper Babar Azam (22) in the sixth over.
England tightened their grip in the middle overs as leg-spinner Adil Rashid dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and Sohaib Maqsood in his second spell.
Off-spinner Moeen Ali dismissed Mohammad Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman cheaply as Pakistan trailed 95-5.
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Mahmood returned down the order to restrict the tourists to 155-9 in 20 overs before Azam Khan was stumped at Matt Parkinson’s leg-break.
Earlier, Buttler returned to the national side with his 14th T20I fifty as England were bowled out for 200 with a ball to spare.
Butler was declared fit after a calf injury and took over as captain Eoin Morgan Ahead of the T20 World Cup to be held this year, he decided to give himself some rest to rotate his team.
After the hosts lost Jason Roy and David Malan in the opening three overs, Buttler and Ali restored the order with a quick 67-run partnership.
Ali eventually fell for 36, taking paceman Mohammad Hasnain to mid-off, but Buttler accelerated England’s run rate with last match hero Liam Livingstone.
Butler picked up mid-off for the second wicket of Hasnain’s innings, but Livingstone, fresh off England’s fastest century to date, produced another entertaining innings for the home supporters.
Livingstone managed the biggest hit of the day, with a delivery from Haris Rauf straight into the newly constructed football stand.
The right-hander was run out for 38 off 23 balls before the lower order added 35 runs in the final four overs to take England’s score to 200 for the second consecutive game – this time to take the win.
Both the teams will now travel to Manchester for the series decider on Tuesday.
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