Top performances from Sam Curran and Ben Stokes powered England to their second ICC T20 World Cup title after 2010, as they defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a gripping low-scoring final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.
England delivered a fantastic performance with the ball, reducing Pakistan to 137/8. Sam Curran (3/12) led the English batting attack. Chasing 138, England was reduced to 45/3 before the power play, but Stokes (52*) delivered in a big match once again to take his side to a victory. Chasing 138, England lost opener Alex Hales in the first over itself for just one run after Shaheen Afridi sent a delivery crashing through his gates. England was 7/1 after one over.
England needed six in 10 balls, and five of their batters were back in the hut for 132. Stokes brought up his first half-century in T20I cricket with a four in 47 balls. Scores were levelled.
Stokes brought in the winning runs, and England finished the innings at 138/5 in 19 overs, with Stokes unbeaten at 52 off 49 balls and Liam Livingstone at 1.
Rauf (2/23) was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan. Shaheen, Wasim, and Shadab picked one each.
Earlier, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, and Adil Rashid delivered stunning spells to restrict Pakistan to 137/8 in the final of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.
