England VS Pakistan Played at MCG on 13 November 2022
England 138/5 in 19 Overs (Ben Stokes 52* , Jos Buttler 26, Harry Brooks 20, Haris Rauf 2/23)
Pakistan 137/8 in 20 Overs. (Shan Masood 38, Babar Azam 32,Shadab Khan 20, Sam Curran 3/12, Adil Rashid 2/22 , Chris Jordan 2/27)
England Won by 5 wickets
Man of the Match: Sam Curran
Man of the Tournament: Sam Curran.
After may dramas and upsets the strongest and the most deserving team England was crowned with the Championship. Wining T20 world cup second time England became the first ever team holding the championship title of two formats of white ball cricket ODI and T20.
England won the thrilling low scoring final beating effervescent by 5 wickets. Asked to bat first Pakistan on a two paced gripping wicket managed scoring 137/8. England managing the resurging quality Pakistan bowling attack could overhaul the target by 19th over scoring 138/5. It appeared like history was going to be repeated at MCG Melbourne yesterday in the final of T20 world cup. Pakistan in 1992 World Cup won the championship beating England in the final.
The two teams stormed into the final outclassing New Zealand and India in the respective semi finals. In the cricket coliseum, 80,500 cricket admirers had their money worth witnessed a top quality highly intense final under cloudy sky. 
[Photo collected]
English captain was lucky with the coin. Their bowlers had first use of the two paced gripping wicket where scoring runs appeared not too easy. Pakistan struggling against Sam Curran (3/12), Adil Rashid (2/22) and Chris Jordan (2/27) could manage scoring 137/8. Learning lessons from their group stage defeat against Ireland in the same venue English bowling gave opportunity to the free scoring Pakistan batsmen. Only Shan Masood (38) and Babar Azam (32) could play innings of substance. If one of them could bat till the end Pakistan score could reach 160. That could be winning score on the day.
However undaunted Pakistan bowled and fielded exceptionally well keeping English batsmen under check till the 16th over. Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Nasim Shah bowled exceptionally well. Unfortunately, Shaheen stressed his knee in taking a brilliant sliding catch of Brook off the bowling of Shadab. After nursing a little bit he returned to bowl his 3rd over. But unfortunately, he limped out of ground. Babar had no other option but bringing in his 6th option part time off spinner Iftikhar. Ben Stokes well set at the wicket slammed Iftikhar for 13 valuable runs. That turned the tide and England won by 5 wickets. It was by no means a well contested final. With a little bit of luck Pakistan could surprise England.
However, a great win for England. World cricket noticed how English batsmen handled a well- primed Pakistan attack on a very difficult wicket. We believe no other team would have survived Pakistan attack at that time. Ben Stokes playing a wonderful unbeaten innings of 52 again proved that he is a player of big occasion. Remember English cricket was at a low ebb in 2015 when they were knocked out by Bangladesh from ICC world cup at Adelaide. How their cricket has turned out since then in all formats? England had the best all round team of the tournament and deservedly won the championship.
It will be only fitting if teams like Bangladesh takes lesson from England and plan their recovery.
BDST: 1138 HRS, NOV 14, 2022
SMS
