England celebrated the men’s ICC T-20 World Cup cricket overpowering Pakistan with an easy five wickets victory on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) following their triumph of men’s 50 overs World Cup (2019).
The match started with a high intensity when everything was at stake with the best bowling attack of Pakistan and the best batting line-up of England in the ongoing tournament and finally the batting side laughed the last laugh with England showed their prowess.
England stormed into the final overpowering India, one of the all times favourites in any of the cricket tournament, against any opponents, inflicting a humiliating 10-wicket defeat in the semifinal.
England, who eventually were the favourites in the final and decided to send Pakistan to field first after winning the toss with the intent to stage the epic episode of semifinal and almost success on their target, as after demolishing the opponents on 137 runs win the match with six balls to spare losing five wickets.
In fact Adil Rashid difficult spins and Sam Curran’s web to restrict Pakistan to win the T20 crown. However, Pakistan as usual began the innings with some attacking attitude with the captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rezwan scored 29 runs in 4.1 overs but the partnership departed with Sam Curren struck first with picking up Rezwan was played on.
Rezwan, who looked to be danger after scoring 15 off 14 balls hitting a six, going to with a sloping bat but the hit the inside edge of the bat and hit the stumps.
Babar Azam, who looked to lead Pakistan from front could manage on 32 runs off 28 balls before offering his wicket to Adil Rashid of his ball when Haris joined Babar after Rezwan departure played 12 ball to score eight runs.
After the front liner batters’ debacle, Shan Masood and Shadab Khan at the middle struggle much to mend the collapse but both of them got out in quick succession scoring 38 runs of 28 and 20 runs off 14 balls respectively.
It was expected, Shan Masood and Shadab Khan could make the encounter an exciting one, as they raised some hopes with responding strongly against the English bowlers who were fierce mood.
Shadab Shan Massod had put on 36 off 25 balls for the fifth wicket but Sam Curran's return at the death has brought him yet another wicket, his 12th of the tournament.
Sam Curran, who was utterly world class with taking three wickets conceding only 12 runs in his four overs spells with 15 dot balls in the World Cup when Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan accompanied him well with taking two wickets each.
England were not too brilliant in chasing the paltry target of 138 runs as they lost three wickets for 45 runs with Alex Hales the first wicket to get out with England’s score card read only seven runs and at a stage the match looked a tense run chase to win but an unbeaten 50 of Ben Stokes along with Harry Brook and Moeen Ali did not allow any upset.
Alex Hales, who gave solid accompany to the captain Jos Buttler during their record 10 wickets victory over India, was completely cramped for room while desperately swishing across the line trying to play a ball in perfect length ball with big swing straight towards the leg stumps.
Rest of the batters though struggled a bit but did not collapsed when Ben Stokes was steady to score unbeaten 50 off 49 balls with five fours and one six and accompanied by Harry Brook and Moeen Ali made easy for England to complete the job.
