By Malik Ouzia@MalikOuzia_13 November 2022
Pakistan vs England LIVE!
England beat Pakistan by five wickets in a pulsating final T20 World Cup Final. Chasing 138 in in Melbourne, Ben Stokes further wrote himself into English cricket folklore by guiding England to victory with 52 not out under intense pressure. The win means England become the first team to hold the men’s 20 and 50-over world titles.
Stokes was there at the end, as he was in the 2019 50-over World Cup Final three years ago. He capitalised on a cruel injury to Pakistan left-armer pace bowler Shaheen Afridi and took his side to victory with six balls to spare. This could be the last dance for a number of the England squad - including Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan and Adil Rashid - though Jos Buttler insists otherwise.
Follow Standard Sport’s dedicated LIVE blog below for reaction, including expert insight and analysis from cricket correspondent Malik Ouzia.
Jos Buttler lifts the trophy!
Fireworks shoot into the Melbourne sky. Streamers cover the England squad.
England are the T20 world champions.
The England players are about to get their trophies. England become the first team to hold the men’s 20 and 50-over world titles. The Pakistan players look dejected as collect their runner-up medals.
Moeen Ali: “This is one of the best days of my cricketing career. I feel as a team we deserved it. Over a long time we've played some amazing cricket and then to win today against a brilliant Pakistan side is an amazing feeling.”
Chris Woakes: “I think the wicket offered a little bit to the quick bowlers, held length, different bounce and a bit of nip. Generally it was probably a 160 pitch but the occasion gets the better of people and rightly so. But we got over the line and that's all that matters.”
Lord's 2019, Headingley 2019 and now this for Ben Stokes.
“It’s been a good one,” says Stokes, who adds: “The way that we bowled - Adil Rashid, Sam Curran – that is what won us the game. It was a tricky wicket so restrict them to 137, the bowlers have got to take a lot of credit for that. I feel we have lived up to all the challenges that we have had thrown at us throughout the tournament.”
It won’t surprise you to hear that Sweet Caroline is blaring already. England are the first men’s team to ever hold the 50-over and T20 world titles at the same time.
A huge roar from Ben Stokes. What a difference from five years ago, when it was his final over dispatched by Carlos Brathwaite to give West Indies the World Cup.
ENG 138/5 (19.0 overs)
Stokes 52, Livingstone 1
England win by five wickets!
England win the T20 World Cup!
ENG 137/5 (18.4 overs)
Stokes 51, Livingstone 1
Liam Livingstone the new man in and on strike, six needed but he’s not tempted into the big shot, just nudging the single to give Stokes the strike back.
Full toss, Stokes times it brilliantly and - remarkably - Stokes brings up his first ever T20I half-century.
One to win…