The 1992 World Cup script could not be repeated again for it was Ben Stokes again in an under-pressure game where the run chase was tense and England needed a big game player to get them home. After the World Cup final and Headingley heist, Stokes stamped his authority at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to guide his side to their second T20 World Cup title. However, it was not just Stokes but a well-oiled English bowling lineup which preyed on a nervous Pakistan batting side at the big stage, ultimately leading to a five-wicket win for the Three Lions.
Eventful powerplay overs
Shaheen Afridi infused life into the match with a terrific first over to get rid of Alex Hales for a single. Naseem Shah got some help from the conditions but got hit for three fours in the second over. In the fourth over, Phil Salt (10) hit Haris Rauf for a boundary. The in-form Pakistan bowler came back well and got Salt's wicket two balls later. Naseem's second over went for plenty as well with Buttler hitting the first six of the run chase. Rauf struck again to get the big wicket of Buttler (26) in the last over of powerplay overs. Despite the three wickets, England had 49 runs on the board after six overs.
Seesaw in middle overs
Harry Brook and Stokes tried to stabilise the run chase and cruise towards the target. The boundaries dried up and Brook succumbed under pressure. Shadab got Brook's (20) wicket in the 13th over but it ended up injuring Shaheen. Naseem was fiery in his second spell and kept the pressure on. Stokes survived in the 15th over as Pakistan skipper Babar Azam did not opt for DRS. Rauf accelerated after that and Afridi getting injured had a major impact on Pakistan's chances.
Stokes finishes it off
Iftikhar Ahmed had to bowl the rest of 16th over and was hit for a four and six by Stokes. Moeen Ali capitalised as well and hit Wasim Jr for three boundaries in the 17th over. Rauf bowled a brilliant 18th over but it was not enough to bring his side back in the game and neither was Moeen's wicket in the penultimate over. Stokes made it look easy in the penultimate over and reached his maiden T20I century with a boundary followed by the winning runs. The all-rounder remained unbeaten for 52 off 49 deliveries including five fours and one six.
Nervy start
Earlier, Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to field first. Stokes started off with a no ball but made up for it. In the fourth over, Rizwan hit the first six of the innings. But Rizwan looked rusty and got out to Sam Curran in the fifth over. After the powerplay overs, Pakistan conceded 39 runs. Babar and Mohammad Haris could not make use of the fielding restrictions.
Rashid strangles Pakistan
Adil Rashid was introduced into the attack and he delivered straightaway. Haris decided to take on the leggie and got caught at long on. He contributed just eight runs from 12 deliveries. At the halfway stage, Pakistan had 68/2 on the board. Babar could not convert a decent start into a big score and became Rashid's second victim of the night. The skipper scored 32 runs from 28 deliveries.
Too many wickets
Stokes came back into the attack and got Iftikhar out for a six-ball duck. Shan Masood carried the innings on his back and Shadab hit a few boundaries to lay a good platform. But in the death overs, it did not go Pakistan's way. Masood got out after scoring 38 runs from 28 deliveries. Curran took his wicket. In the 18th over, Chris Jordan got rid of Shadab who scored 20 runs from 14 deliveries. Just one boundary was scored in the last two overs. Nawaz lost his wicket to Curran whereas Jordan got Mohammad Wasim Jr's as they managed to post a below par score of 137/8.
For England, Curran took three wickets to become their highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup season. Rashid and Jordan took two wickets each and did not let Pakistan bowlers dominate.
