England showcased a flawless game plan at the MCG in Melbourne, taking down Pakistan by 5 wickets to claim the 2022 T20 World Cup. Ben Stokes played a pivotal role, fighting through a tough half-century without being dismissed to guide his team past the low target of 138 with a few balls to spare. The win was made possible by a disciplined bowling effort that kept Pakistan to 137 runs, with Sam Curran standing out as the MVP of the attack, finishing with impressive figures of 3/12 across 4 overs.
This win marked a significant milestone for English cricket, as they captured their second T20 World Cup title since their first win in 2010. In doing so, they drew level with the West Indies for the record of the most T20 World Cup championships.
England also made history as the first men's team to ever hold the ODI and T20 World Cup titles concurrently, maintaining their status as world leaders after their 2019 ODI World Cup victory.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, England put immediate pressure on Pakistan's openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who struggled to find their rhythm. Sam Curran broke the opening stand early by dismissing Rizwan for 15, and Mohammad Haris soon followed for a mere 8. However, the momentum shifted briefly as Captain Azam and Shan Masood began attacking, hitting several boundaries to steady the innings.
The tide turned again in the 12th over when Adil Rashid produced a brilliant googly that completely deceived Babar Azam, who was caught for 32. The pressure mounted further in the following over when Ben Stokes dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed for a duck. While Shan Masood (38) and Shadab Khan (20) attempted to accelerate with a 36-run partnership for the fifth wicket, they couldn't shift the overall momentum.
England's bowling unit remained relentless, consistently taking wickets and preventing Pakistan from establishing any real dominance. Ultimately, Pakistan managed to post a total of 137/8, leaving their bowlers with a challenging target to defend.
England's chase began precariously when Shaheen Afridi removed Alex Hales for just 2 runs with a superb delivery. Captain Jos Buttler contributed a quick 26, but a subsequent collapse threatened to derail their progress. However, Ben Stokes stepped up with a commanding performance, scoring a blistering series of runs to seal the win, supported by a vital 19 from Moeen Ali. Once again, Stokes cemented his reputation as a world-class all-rounder.