PAK vs ENG, Final Match Highlights: Ben Stokes Shines As England Beat Pakistan To Win Their 2nd World Cup

ICC T20 WC 2022, PAK vs ENG: Big games always bring match winners to the centre stage and 'mighty Stokes' didn't mind a repeat of his 2019 Lord's performance on home soil to clinch the silverware.

England outclass Pakistan by five wickets to lift the T20 World Cup 2022 trophy at MCG. ( Image Source :@ICC / Twitter )

England vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup Highlights: Jos Buttler-led England cricket team, Sunday, defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a low-scoring T20 World Cup 2022 final at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to lift their second T20 World Cup trophy. England have yet again proven why they are the foremost team of this era in limited overs format, becoming the only team so far to win both T20I and ODI World Cup finals. Big games always bring match winners to the centre stage and 'mighty Stokes' didn't mind a repeat of his 2019 Lord's performance on home soil to clinch the silverware. History favored the Men in Green a MCG but Babar Azam & co. failed to repeat their team's 1992 ODI World Cup win at the very same venue.

A Ben Stokes special at the MCG! 😍

England take a special title home 🏆#PAKvENG | #T20WorldCupFinal | 📝 https://t.co/HdpneOrKoo pic.twitter.com/BOIrCSwlyn

— ICC (@ICC) November 13, 2022

England skipper Jos Butter won the toss and opted to bowl first on a spicy deck like MCG. His decision was absolutely spot on as taking advantage of the pace and bounce, Sam Curran-led England bowling team delivered stunning spells to restrict Pakistan to 137/8 in the summit clash. Curran was the pick of English bowlers, taking three wickets, while Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan bagged two wickets each, respectively. Skipper Babar Azam's lean patch in international cricket continues with him managing to amass only 32 runs in his slow-paced knock. Shaan Masood was the highest run-scorer for Pakistan with 38 runs.

Defending a patry 138, Shaheen Afridi-led bowling attack did a formidable job in putting pressure on England batters in initial overs of second innings. Afridi dismissed in-form Alex Hales in the very first over to give Pakistan a dream start. Later, Haris Rauf bagged quick wickets, dismissing both Phil Salt and captain Jos Buttler inside the powerplay overs to further dent England run-chase. However, an injury to Shaheen helped England gain momentum. Babar Azam had no option but to ask part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed to bowl a few overs. 

Taking advantage of this, Ben Stokes hammered some classy strokes to steady his team's sinking ship and then there was no stopping him. He went on to play a beautiful, well-paced innings to score a fifty and help England seal a historic win at MCG.