MELBOURNE, June 23 (Reuters) – Ben Stokes won his second Twenty20 World Cup title in half a century as England beat Pakistan by five wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. We stayed undefeated and kept the tension up.
Thirty years after losing to Pakistan at the MCG in the World Cup Over 50 final, England turned the tables on the South Asians with spectacular death bowling and Stokes, who finished with 52, fell short of winning in 138 chases.
England became the first country to retain both global white ball titles after winning her 50-over World Cup at home in 2019. Against New Zealand in 2019, Stokes also extended his 84-game unbeaten streak.
“In the finals, especially the chase, you forget all the hard work in the beginning,” Stokes said.
He added,”To restrict them to 130 or whatever it was, the bowlers take a lot of credit.”
All-rounder Sam Curran was player-of-the-match after finishing with miserly figures of 3-12 as Pakistan collapsed late to finish on 137 for eight, having been sent in to bat by England captain Jos Buttler. He was also named player-of-the-tournament after consistent brilliance in death bowling.
“Very special but I don’t think I should be getting this, I think the way Stokesy played there — to get a 50 in the final, he does it so many times for us,” said Curran.
He explained,”We are going to enjoy this occasion, very special.”
The heavy rain forecast never hit the MCG as England endured some nervous moments before Stokes struck a single off Mohammad Washim to seal victory with six balls to spare.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid did the early damage for England with two wickets, including the key scalp of captain Babar Azam for 32, before Pakistan crumbled in the final overs, losing 4-10. Pakistan will wonder what happened as talisman paceman Shaheen Afridi left the field after collapsing with injury after catching Harry Brooke at 20 in the deep.
He returned to throw a point ball but was unable to continue, proving a turning point as Stokes and Moen Ali (19) pushed England well ahead of their required run rate in attacking the bowlers. did.
Pakistani captain Babar said,”Our bowling is among the best in the world and if it weren’t for Shaheen Afridi’s unfortunate injury, it might have turned out differently”.
Earlier, in the opening with Babar he 29. He broke the run partnership and it was Curran who set the tone for England when he hit 15 over the opener Rizwan in the stumps. Rashid scored his first ball when Mohammad Harris (8) charged into the long fence but was caught by Stokes.
Rashid then sacked Babar in a wicket Maiden over with a fine catch and bowl for 32.
Stokes ducked his Ahmed for Iftikal and left Pakistan struggling 4-85 for him. Shan His Massoud and Shadab Khan combined to score his 36 runs, but Massoud missed a slog and he scored 38 as Curran regained momentum for England after his death.
Massoud’s firing caused a meltdown as Karan and Chris Jordan shared the last door. England’s chase gets off to a rocky start as Afridi throws the ball to Alex Hales, Phil Salt draws Harris Rauch straight to Iftikar Ahmed in mid-wicket and Butler loses another partner.
