The much-awaited final of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 finally got underway at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Pakistan and England locked horns in a final of a World Tournament after 30 years. England captain Jos Buttler won the all-important toss and elected to field first in the crucial game.
Pakistan’s famed opening duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan walked out to the middle to give their side a solid start. Both batters started cautiously early on but couldn’t get off to a flier due to some good bowling by England seamers.
Pakistan lost their first wicket on 29 after 4.2 overs as Sam Curran shattered Mohammad Rizwan’s stumps. Following Rizwan’s wicket, Mohammad Haris walked in to bat to give some impetus to Pakistan’s innings. However, he looked a bit rusty and couldn’t score even at run-a-ball. Meanwhile, Babar Azam continued to take his innings forward as he kept rotating the strike.
Haris’ struggling innings was ended by Adil Rashid as he departed after scoring just 8 off 12 balls. His wicket brought the left-hander Shan Masood to the crease as Pakistan hoped for a big partnership to get them ahead in the match. Just when things were looking settled for Pakistan, Adil Rashid removed Babar Azam with a beautiful googly which Babar failed to read.
Babar departed after scoring 32 off 28 balls. Pakistan lost another wicket in the next over as Ben Stokes removed Iftikhar Ahmed. Shadab Khan and Shan Masood tried to improve the run rate and score runs quickly to post a challenging total on the board. However, they couldn’t continue for long as Sam Curran got rid of Shan Masood who returned to the pavilion on the score of 121 after scoring 38 off 28 balls.
Shadab Khan followed him shortly after as he got dismissed by Chris Jordan after scoring 20 off 14 balls. Pakistan were desperate for runs at the death but kept losing wickets against the tight bowling of Sam Curran and Chris Jordan. Pakistan finished their innings after putting 137/8 after 20 overs. Sam Curran was the pick of the bowlers for England who picked up 3/12 in four overs. Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan also picked up two wickets each.
Here’s how fans reacted after the first innings of the big final:
Babra Azam is stubborn, selfish and stupid captain. He should have let Harris open the inning instead of him and utilise the power play. He could have been the x fector. #T20WorldCupFinal??#Engvpak #BabarAzam #EngvsPak #
— #Bharatjodoyatra (@_javedchauhan) November 13, 2022
Very low target for England. Absolutely no pressure for them. #EngvsPak
— Asif (@asifik22) November 13, 2022
Current situation of every Pakistani #EngvsPak #BabarAzam? #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/DKnhom54Zl
— Vikas Kumar Singh?? (@banarasivikas) November 13, 2022
@CurranSM wow? what a performance #csklion #EngvsPak
— Arbaaz Khan (@Arbaaz0117) November 13, 2022
150 rupaye ki GDP wale, netherland ki khairaat se qualify karne wale world ki best team ko gyaan pel rahe the. Pahle zimbabwe se jeetna seekh lo fir final khelna. #EngvsPak #TukkeKiTeam #QudratKaNizam
— maihukaun (@mojojojo22222) November 13, 2022
Pakistan I guess are 25 runs short. They could have easily crossed 160 #EngvsPak
— ARUN (@ManhasArun) November 13, 2022
England is going win this t20 world cup
As a indian I am watching a game but so far feels like England will.l8ft the trophy but internally I want Pakistan to win this idk why#EngvsPak #T20WorldCupFinal #PAKvsEng— TheDosanjh007 (@Dosanjh007T) November 13, 2022
Babra Azam is stubborn, selfish and stupid captain. He should have let Harris open the inning instead of him and utilise the power play. He could have been the x fector. #T20WorldCupFinal??#Engvpak #BabarAzam #EngvsPak #
— #Bharatjodoyatra (@_javedchauhan) November 13, 2022
1992 ke wc me bhi Pakistan odi khela tha or 2022 me bhi ?? #EngvsPak #t20worldcup#BabarAzam? #ViratKohli? #Cricket #india
— indian ?? (@darshan1642002) November 13, 2022
Babar can't win you trophies…#EngvsPak#T20WorldCupFinal
— Sufyan (@Just1Sufyan) November 13, 2022
Bhai, aaj Pakistan jitega…. Its my prediction. Accha lage ya nahi #EngvsPak
— Bhadrolok ????? (@satyabrs) November 13, 2022
If English batsmen don't handle Shaheen with caution, they have a lot to lose.#EngvsPak
— Bheja Fry (@bhejafry_fry) November 13, 2022
#EngvsPak #BabarAzam? #ShaheenShahAfridi pic.twitter.com/P6FSe0R4X7
— Iqra Official (@IqraOfficial4) November 13, 2022
