PAK VS ENG FINAL

Right then! That's it from this enticing final and it brings an end to what has been a truly outstanding tournament. We are sure to have some withdrawal symptoms after all the action we have witnessed in recent times. England are now champions of both the shorter formats of the game and this team is filled with white-ball greats. Pakistan put up a great fight but could not get over the line but their fans will be thrilled with the journey their team put them through. We still have plenty of cricketing action around the globe so do go through our fixture page and enjoy our coverage for the upcoming matches. It's goodbye from here, cheers!

Jos Buttler steps on the podium to collect the trophy and the entire English team is jumping in joy. What a moment for them! Their dream has come true. Dance away and celebrate hard. Thoroughly deserved.

Jos Buttler, the World Cup-winning captain of England, says that to be able to win the T20 World Cup is absolutely amazing. Tells that it's been a fantastic tournament for them and adds that the tour of Pakistan was very helpful for the team to gel together. Smiles and says that they have quite a few Australians as a part of the support team. Praises the bowling effort of Adil Rashid. Shares that when you hit the right length, there was some seam movement and it was not easy to bat. Talks about Ben Stokes and calls him the ultimate competitor.

The English players collect their medals and are getting ready to celebrate. But before that, here is Jos Buttler having a word...

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, starts by congratulating the English team. Adds that they felt at home because of all the support and thanked the crowd. Tells that the way the team bounced back was unbelievable and he credits his boys. Shares that his advice to his team was to play their natural game and with freedom. Calls his bowling attack one of the best going around. Talks about the injury to Shaheen Afridi and accepts that it's a part of the game.

The match officials get their medals first and then the Pakistan players also receive their runners-up medals.

SAM CURRAN IS THE PLAYER OF THE FINAL (4-0-12-3) AND TOURNAMENT (13 WICKETS)! Sam starts by saying that Ben Stokes should be getting the Player of the Match award for his knock under pressure. Shares that his bowling plan was quite simple and he was trying to bowl according to the dimensions of the ground. Praises the bowling of Pakistan as well who put them under pressure. Tells that Ben Stokes is the kind of a player the youngsters look up to. Thanks the crowd for all the support.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

Moeen Ali is in next.  Says that this is one of the best days of his career. Feels that they deserved to win. Mentions that it's just about staying positive and it was nice to form a crucial stand with Ben Stokes. Alex Hales also joins. The opener says that the feeling is special and this is the icing on the cake. Adds that he took his time to get going but he enjoyed this tournament. On the delivery that dismissed him, Hales chuckles and says that his feet were nowhere and calls it a 'decent' ball (laughs).

Man of the moment, Ben Stokes comes up for a quick word as well. Says that in the final, if you do all the hard work before that, that will win you the game. Praises the bowlers for setting it up. Adds that restricting Pakistan to 130-odd, the bowlers need to get the credit for that. Tells that they had to address the issue after their loss against Ireland, say what is to be said and then let it go. Mentions that was a blip on the way and the best teams learn from their mistakes and move on to the next challenge. States that representing your country in a World Cup is amazing and it's been a good one.

Harry Brook says that it feels so good as not many expected them to win the World Cup and is glad that they showed how good they are! Smiles and says that he thought the pitch will be a little better. Praises the crowd for being so amazing. Chris Woakes also joins in and says that they lost a few games in Australia, but this is a good thing. Adds that the wicket provided very little for the bowlers. He feels that it was a 160-run pitch but the occasion gets the better of you when you go past the line.

Plenty of interviews coming your way, stay tuned...

The run chase was set up by the England bowlers who justified their skipper's decision to bowl first and restricted the opposition to an under-par total. Babar Azam, Shan Masood and Shadab Khan all got off to decent starts but wickets kept falling at regular intervals which did not allow the Pakistani batters to accelerate toward the end. Sam Curran was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed three wickets for just 12 runs in his four overs and was ably supported by Chris Jordan and Adil Rashid who picked up two wickets each. The target was never going to be out of reach of England's long batting line-up and despite a few stutters they managed to cross the finish line.

Pakistan needed something to boost their morale and get the crowd that had fallen silent after their first inning well and truly behind them. They got impetus early as Shaheen Afridi struck in his very first over to bring his team right back into the contest. The runs kept flowing though and a double strike from Haris Rauf in the Powerplay pegged England back once again. They were unable to take wickets for a while but after the refreshment break that they were able to build pressure and that resulted in Shadab Khan taking a wicket. He became the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in T20Is in the process and it allowed his team to bowl a few quiet overs thereafter. The turning point in the game for Pakistan was the injury to their star bowler Shaheen Afridi who had to walk off the field without completing his full quota of four overs. His over was completed by Iftikhar Ahmed who conceded 13 runs in 5 balls and the momentum immediately shifted towards England. Mohammad Wasim picked up the wicket of Moeen Ali towards the end but it was a little too late and they ended up second best.

England did not get off to the best of starts as they lost the in-form Alex Hales in the very first over and it looked like this could be a nervous run chase. Jos Buttler however provided the perfect counter-attacking knock to wrestle the momentum back in their favor. The dismissal of Philip Salt did not deter the England captain who hit some wonderful shots between being beaten several times. His wicket did ring some alarm bells in the dressing room but Ben Stokes and Harry Brook consolidated the innings and built a partnership of 39 runs in 42 deliveries. The wicket of Harry Brook did put some pressure on the new batter Moeen Ali and with Ben Stokes not looking at his best, it looked like the game was headed for a tight finish. It required one stroke of luck as Shaheen Afridi walked off the pitch for the game to turn in their favor as they took the attack to the Pakistani bowlers. England put on a 47-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ben Stokes remaining unbeaten on 52 and taking his team home.

Massive celebration breaks out at the MCG! England are crowned the champions for the second time in the history of this format. They are ecstatic. Agony in the Pakistan camp. Fairplay to them, they tried hard. But this evening belongs to England who are now the champions in both formats. Terrific atmosphere. Jos Buttler is on the shoulders of his teammates. What a start to his captaincy, what an apt replacement for Eoin Morgan.

Ben Stokes scores in Finals - International: 13 of 8 in 2016 T20 WC 84* of 98 in 2019 ODI WC 52* of 49 in 2022 T20 WC

ENGLAND ARE THE CHAMPIONS! Fuller in length and around leg, Ben Stokes clears his front leg and whips it through mid-wicket for the winning run. Stokes is all pumped up. He has his redemption for Kolkata. The English players run out to the middle to celebrate. Fireworks go off! What scenes! England win the game by 5 wickets!