England WIN T20 World Cup 2022, defeat Pakistan by 5 wickets

Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup 2022: England won the T20 World Cup 2022 by defeating Pakistan by five wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia on Sunday. For England, Ben Stokes played stellar innings of 52 runs with Moeen Ali, who departed in the 19th over but before that, he added crucial 19 runs off 13 balls.  

Defending 137, Pakistan got its breakthrough in the very first over but failed to restrict runs flowing for England. After Alex Hales departed, Buttler took the charge and hit two consecutive boundaries in Naseem Shah's over. England lost their second wicket in the fourth over when Haris Rauf got Philip Salt out. Salt made 10 off 9 deliveries.

The biggest breakthrough for the Men in Green came in the sixth over when Rauf got captain Buttler out. Before his departure, Buttler added 26 off 17 balls. After the captain departed, Ben Stokes and Harry Brook added 39 runs - a crucial partnership for England. However, Brook got frustrated as he was not getting runs easily. He went for some lofty shots but got caught out after making 20 off 23 balls.      

Pakistan, which batted first, crumbled after struggling to take off as England bowlers managed to restrict the Men in Green at 137 for 8 in 20 overs. England won the toss and decided to bowl first. Pakistan had a slow start in the power play and could manage only 39 for 1 in the first six overs.

England's fast bowler Sam Curran delivered the first wicket in the form of Mohammad Rizwan who scored just 15 off 14 deliveries. Mohammad Haris was the second to depart when Pakistan had 45 on board. Adil Rashid sent him back into the pavilion. In the first ten overs, Pakistan managed to put 68 runs for 2. 

After drinks, Rashid again struck and got Babar Azam out. Azam made 32 off 28 balls. After Babar, Iftikhar Ahmed stepped in the middle. However, he too was dismissed for no run in 6 balls. He was caught behind by Jos Buttler. Ahmed was caught out on a good-length delivery by Ben Stokes. 

• Sam Curran gives another breakthrough! Muhammad Nawaz out for 5 off 7 deliveries. Nawaz was fought out by Liam Livingstone. Curran picked up his third wicket - the most successful bowler for England (3 for 12).  
• Shadab Khan out! Chris Jordan got Shadab Khan out, who was looking dangerous. He scored 20 off 14 deliveries.    
• Sam Curran strikes again! Pakistan loses the fifth wicket

For Pakistan, 100 runs came on board in the 15th over. At the end of 15 overs, the Men in Green were 106 for 4. 

Experts predict 160 would be a competitive score for Pakistan.     

Pakistan and England Playing XI

England XI: JC Buttler, AD Hales, PD Salt, BA Stokes, HC Brook, MM Ali, LS Livingstone, SM Curran, CR Woakes, CJ Jordan, AU Rashid

Pakistan XI: Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah