England defeat Pakistan to lift T20 World Cup

Sunday, 13 November 2022 11:53

By Reuters

England beat Pakistan by five wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday to win their second Twenty20 World Cup title and burnish their claim as the pre-eminent superpower in white ball cricket.

Thirty years after losing the 50-over World Cup final to Pakistan at the MCG, England turned the tables on the south Asians with brilliant death bowling and a Ben Stokes half-century that reeled in a modest victory target of 138.

With all-rounder Sam Curran recording a miserly 3-12, Pakistan collapsed in the final overs to finish on 137 for eight after being sent in to bat by England captain Jos Buttler.

The heavy rain forecast never hit the MCG as England, led by the unflappable Stokes, reeled in the total 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.

Sealing their second T20 World Cup, England are now the first nation to hold both global white-ball trophies, having won the 50-over World Cup on home soil in 2019.

More from Sports News

PSG retain Champions League title with shoot-out win over Arsenal

Paris St Germain has retained their Champions League title with a penalty shoot-out victory over Arsenal after a 1-1 draw in a cagey final in the Puskas Arena on Saturday.
French Open champion Gauff knocked out by Potapova in third round

Defending French Open champion Coco Gauff has been knocked out of the Grand Slam following a 4-6 7-6(1) 6-4 loss to Anastasia Potapova in the third round at Roland Garros on Saturday.
Sabalenka sees off Kasatkina to reach French Open fourth round

Aryna Sabalenka has cut through the French Open chaos as the world number one beat Australia's Daria Kasatkina 6-0 7-5 on Saturday to seal her place in the fourth round after seismic upsets in the previous two days at Roland Garros.
Parry stuns Anisimova to reach first Grand Slam fourth round at French Open

Diane Parry, the last Frenchwoman standing in the French Open women's draw, has pulled off a stunning 6-3 4-6 7-6(3) victory over American Amanda Anisimova on Saturday, advancing to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.
Osaka survives three-set scare against teenager Jovic

Naomi Osaka has dazzled with an all-gold outfit but had to dig deep for a hard-fought 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-4 victory over American teenager Iva Jovic on Saturday to reach her first-ever French Open fourth round.