Pakistan vs England LIVE: T20 Cricket World Cup final result and reaction as Ben Stokes stars
England beat Pakistan by five wickets to the win the World Cup as Stokes was the hero once again
Ben Stokes was the hero with the bat once again as England successfully chased down Pakistan to win the T20 World Cup in a thrilling final in Melbourne.
Stokes produced his highest T20 score - finishing with an unbeaten 52 runs off 49 balls for his first half-century in the format - as the all-rounder produced another sublime performance on the biggest stage.
England were set 138 to win following wonderful bowling from Sam Curran and Adil Rashid and looked odds-on to add to complete the set of World Cups following their victory in the 50-over format in 2019.
But Pakistan responded to slow England’s momentum, removing Alex Hales early and then following with the wicket of Jos Buttler to set up a nervy finish at the MCG.
Stokes, as well as Moeen Ali, stood up to the challenge and turned the tide following a sensational 17th over that produced 16 runs as England swung for the boundaries. Ali was dismissed to leave England needing six runs off their final 10 balls - but Stokes completed his first T20 half-century to win the World Cup for England.
Follow all the reaction from the T20 World Cup final:
England 49/3 (5.4) - Haris Rauf removes Jos Buttler!
WICKET! Haris with a huge moment, Buttler edges and it’s a simple catch from Rizwan, Pakistan believe!
Buttler gone for 26, England 45/3.
Brook arrives at the crease, this is a turbulent time for England, major adversity here despite what many assumed would be a modest chase.
That’s four! A little grin from Brook, he’s loving this stage, a little dance down the wicket and timed through the gap.
England 43/2 (5.0)
Buttler with a lovely shot, audacious, it’s six as he shuffles over and scoops that one up and over for a maximum off Naseem Shah.
It’s a superb over though, with Naseem beating the edge on a few occasions.
95 needed from 90 balls...
England 32/2 (4.0) - Haris removes Salt to hand Pakistan more hope
WICKET! Haris into the action and Salt is GONE!
Pakistan believe here, it’s chipped up to Iftikhar Ahmed, this is a big power play!
Salt walks after making 10 from nine.
Ben Stokes arrives, what a moment. Pakistan are fired up here, we have a game!
England 27/1 (2.3)
Pakistan want an lbw here... Shaheen Shah Afridi to Phil Salt.
It’s appealed, let’s take a look, the Pakistan fans love the move.
The impact was outside leg as it clattered the back thigh pad. That’s not out!
Glorious from the skipper, timing and placement! Off the toes and Afridi can only grimace at it races to the boundary.
England 15/1 (1.4)
Jos the boss! Just as the MCG comes alive for the Pakistan fans, back-to-back boundaries...
England 7/1 (1.0) - Afridi bowls Hales with a cracker!
So then, England looking for 138 to win the T20 World Cup.
Good running first up between Buttler and Hales, they dash for a breezy two.
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Buttler and it whistles past the edge, my goodness it’s close.
The half-appeal is there, but ultra edge later shows us there was no contact.
GONE! Afridi bowls him, Hales cleaned up! WOW!
Pakistan 137/8 (20.0) - Afridi 5 (3), Haris 1 (1)
Livingstone dashes in, Mohammad Wasim is deceived by a slower ball from Jordan.
A suggestion that it might have fallen short, but that’s OUT!
Haris with a big swing, perhaps knowing he has no pressure now with the damage done.
Now Afridi with a top edge and it races to the boundary, FOUR!
Pakistan give England a target of 138 to win the T20 World Cup, we’ll be right back!
Pakistan 130/7 (18.5)
WICKET! Curran has a third, England cruising here!
Nawaz gone for five off seven after looking to fizz one from a full length Curran delivery.
But it can only be chipped up and Livingstone won’t make any mistake in the deep.
Pakistan 127/6 (18.0) - Nawaz 3 (4), Wasim 3 (3)
WICKET! Jordan with England's sixth, Shadab going over the top and Woakes makes no mistake, 123/6.
There could’ve been another for England, but it’s a drop, then an overthrow, Pakistan scramble for three.
Stokes couldn’t prevent the overthrow and then Rashid is tumbling in pursuit of another run-out. High drama.
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