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England's golden generation of white-ball cricketers overcame a spirited Pakistan to win the T20 World Cup with a five-wicket victory in the title clash, on Sunday. The Pakistani fans had hoped for an encore of 1992, when Imran Khan's team created history at this very venue, but Pakistan's batting resembled more like their 1999 World Cup final effort at the Lord's. The total of 137 for 8 Pakistan managed after being asked to bat was never going to be good enough.
The seasoned Ben Stokes (52 not out off 49 balls) just like the 2019 ODI World Cup, anchored the chase despite occasional scratchiness and had a calm Moeen Ali (19) as an ideal foil.
Meanwhile, former English skipper Michael Vaughan pointed out the turning point which turned the game in England's favour.
Speaking after the match, former cricketer Michael Vaughan felt that the fast bowler's injury 'had a major impact on the outcome of the game'. "Have to say the @iShaheenAfridi Injury had a major impact on the outcome of the game .. Pakistan have once again been brilliant to watch .. they being so much to the world game .. #ICCT20WorldCup2022Final", he said.
Shaheen Afridi seemingly injured his knee after taking Harry Brook's catch in the 13th over. He returned and tried to bowl, but could not continue. He could bowl for only 2.1 overs out of his four overs.
He left the field for treatment, made a return few overs later and prepared himself to bowl the 16th over. But he found it difficult to continue and couldn't complete his over. The 22-year-old left the field after one ball and looked very disappointed.
Meanwhile, Pakistan could have seen a different result if pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi had not got injured during the T20 World Cup final, skipper Babar Azam said after the match.
"May be if Shaheen could have bowled that over, things would have been different. And since there were two left-handers (Stokes and Moeen Ali) and I thought of bowling an off-spinner," Babar reasoned.
"Since we did not build a partnership, we went on the backfoot. England bowlers were brilliant but that's not an excuse. We played according to the situation but pressure was on us till 20th over. Had Shaheen been there, it could have been different." Pakistan's middle-order didn't perform to its potential and they paid the price for scoring only 137 for 8, which was at least 20 runs short of a par score at the MCG.
However, the skipper thought otherwise.
"I wouldn't blame the middle-order for our defeat. We win and lose as a team. After we were 85 (84) in 11 overs, we should have at least scored 150. But that is the beauty of cricket. Everyday isn't the same," the Pakistan skipper said.
