C T Online Desk: MELBOURNE, Nov 13, 2022- England denied Pakistan any repeat of 1992 World Cup feat as they came up with ruthless performance to lift the T20
World Cup trophy for the second time, thrashing Babar Azam led side by 5
wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) today.
There was lot of talk after Pakistan rose from the ashes to make it final in
a reminiscence of 1992 World Cup but England played yet another clinical
cricket to ruin the dream of the Pakistani fans who turned up in abundance in
iconic MCG to see the side’s glorious achievement.
After restricting Pakistan to 137-8, England cantered to the victory with a
full one over to spare.
With limited resources on the board, Pakistan raised the prospect of
unthinkable when they reduced Jos Buttler’s side 45-3 but Ben Stokes, the
hero of England 2019’s ODI World Cup, held the nerve and drove the side to
the victory with serene approach.
Stokes who took the winning single, was unbeaten on 52 off 49, hitting five
fours and one six.
Buttler began the innings with as usual aggressive fashion before Shaheen
Shah Afridi got the better of Alex Hales in the very first over.
Haris Rauf also produced a fiery first spell that accounted two wickets for
him-he firstly removed Phil Salt for 10 after he played it straight to mid-
wicket and then Buttler edged an express delivery to wicket-keeper after
playing 16 ball-26.
Stokes then took the onus and aided by Harry Brooks, he put on a small but
significant 39-run partnership for the fourth wicket stand that brought the
chase back on track.
Shadab Khan broke the partnership, dismissing Brooks for 20 while Mohammad
Wasim removed Moeen Khan for 19 only to reduce margin.
Stokes meanwhile kept the calmness amid the fall of wickets around him and
guided one through midwicket for a single to complete the chase successfully
in the penultimate over.
Haris took 2-23 to be the Pakistan’s most successful bowler while Afridi,
Wasim and Shadan picked up one wicket apiece.
Adil Rashid produced a gem of spin bowling and Sam Curran came up with
disciplined fast bowling show, helping England restrict Pakistan to a
moderate total, which gave England an early edge in their aspiration to win
the trophy for the first time after 2010.
England now became the second team after West Indies to win the T20 World Cup
twice. It also completed their double after winning an ODI World Cup back in
2019.
Rashid who stifled Pakistan in the middle overs with an intriguing show of
googly, finished with 2-22. Curran gave the finishing touch, refusing
Pakistan batters to go on berserk in the death overs as he claimed 3-12.
Chris Jordan played a perfect foil to the duo with 2-27.
For Pakistan, Shan Masood was the highest scorer with 28 ball-38, that
studded with two fours and one six. Captain Babar Azam made 32 off 28 while
Shadab Khan added 20.
After being asked to bat first, Pakistan looked to head towards a good start
even though opener Mohammad Rizwan survived a run out when on 2. He then
swept fast bowler Chris Woakes six over backward square leg to kick-start
Pakistan’s innings.
But things looked ominous as Curran rattled the stump, dismissing Rizwan for
15.
Pakistan wanted to gain the momentum through Mohammad Haris who just earned a
reputation of big hitter. He began with a boundary but Adil Rashid removed
him for 8, to further strangle Pakistan.
But the defining moment for England came when Rashid undid Babar with googly
to leave Pakistan at 84-3 at 12th over. From that point, Pakistan seemed to
lose the plot. England turned the tide and never let it go.
The situation further worsened when Ben Stokes got rid of Iftikhar Ahmed for
duck with a delivery that carried extra bounce.
Pakistan then kept losing wicket at regular interval as Curran and Jordan
produced a fine death bowling to further embarrass Pakistan.
