England win T20 World Cup

Sports Reporter :
England regained the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 title beating Pakistan by five wickets in the final at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia on Sunday. Last time they won the title in 2010 defeating Australia by seven wickets in West Indies.
Chasing Pakistan’s modest total of 137 for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs, England romped home making 138 for the loss of five wickets when they had six balls to spare.
England had a shaky start as opener Alex Hales (1) was bowled out by Shaheen Shah Afridi when England’s total was just seven.
Opener Jos Buttler and Phil Salt repaired the damage adding together 25 runs in the second wicket stand before Salt (10) was caught at the midwicket by Iftikhar Ahmed off Haris Rauf when England’s score was 32 for the loss of two wickets.
Buttler was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off Haris Rauf when England’s total was 45 for the loss of three wickets.
Buttler made 26 from 17 balls including three fours and a sixer.
Second-down Ben Stokes and Harry Brook built a worthy partnership. They scored together 39 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Brook (20) was caught at the long-off by Shaheen Shah Afridi off Shadab Khan when England’s score was 84 for the loss of four wickets.
Ben Stokes remained unbeaten with 52 runs. His 49-ball innings saw five fours and a sixer.
After dismissal of Brook’s, Stokes and Moeen Ali made another remarkable partnership putting together 48 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Moeen Ali was bowled out by Mohammad Wasim when England was just six runs away from winning spot. Moeen Ali hit 19 from 12 balls including three fours.
Livingstone remained unbeaten with one run.
Haris Rauf bagged two wickets in the space of 23 runs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Sam Curran played the key role to restrict Pakistan to a meek total. He captured three wickets instead of 12 runs. Curran was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan bagged two wickets each for 22 and 27 runs respectively.
 Opener Babar Azam and Shan Masood made the most valuable partnership. They contributed together 39 runs in the third wicket stand before Babar was caught & bowled by Adil Rashid when Pakistan’s score was 84 for the loss of three wickets.
Babar made 32 from 28 balls featuring two fours.
Shan Masood hit a superb 38. His 28-ball knock was studded with two fours and a sixer before Masood was victim of Sam Curran.
Shadab Khan hit a fine 20 from 14 balls with two fours.
BBC adds: Shaheen injury proves crucial
Pakistan – and the crowd – sensed their moment when, with 54 needed from 45, Harry Brook sliced leg-spinner Shadab Khan straight to long-off.
But in taking the catch Shaheen, who had bowled Alex Hales in England’s first over, injured himself – a moment that proved crucial.
He returned to the field to bowl the 16th but after one delivery he limped off the field.
That left part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed to finish the over and Stokes took his chance, smacking a four through extra cover and a six over long-off to bring the game under England’s control.
Moeen Ali followed by hitting seamer Mohammad Wasim for three fours in the next over and the result was all but secure, even though Moeen was bowled in the 19th over.
Pakistan’s pace bowlers can take little blame. Haris Rauf had England captain Jos Buttler caught behind for 26 and Phil Salt taken at mid-wicket in a thrilling spell.
He and Naseem Shah, who somehow went wicketless in four sensational overs, did all they could to secure what would have been Pakistan’s second T20 title.
‘Immensely proud’ – reaction
England captain Jos Butler, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: “It hasn’t sunk in at all obviously. What an unbelievable effort from everyone to win the game. I am a bit speechless.
“It feels really different to 2019. It was a different time, difference place and a different group. I am just immensely proud. Both are just incredible.”
England all-rounder Ben Stokes: “I feel really good. It has been an amazing night. The bowlers have to take credit for restricting them to 137. Sam Curran has done it all tournament and Adil Rashid has turned up at the back end of the tournament when it really matters. That was the best I’ve seen him bowl for England in a T20.
“I am very proud. You don’t get to win World Cups too often so to win two of them is pretty special.”
England head coach Matthew Mott: “It is very special for me. We wanted to turn up and put on a show and enjoy it. We’ll enjoy tonight with the boys because we’ve put in a lot of work to get to this point.”
Pakistan captain Babar Azam: “First of all congratulations to England, they deserve to be champions. We felt at home. Everyone who has come to support us at every venue, thank you so much.
“The first two games we lost but the way the team bounced back was unbelievable, credit to my team.”