KOLKATA – Ben Stokes performed a brisk 84- run knock earlier than David Willey’s 3/56 as defending champions England crushed Pakistan by 93 runs within the 44th match of the ICC World Cup 2023.
Set to chase a frightening 339-run complete, Pakistan’s batting lineup unfolded within the 44th over, yielding 244 in response, regardless of an entertaining last-wicket companionship between Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim Jr. Pakistan bought off to a dismal begin to the pursuit as they misplaced each their openers Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman inside the primary three overs with simply 10 runs on the board.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan briefly anchored the run chase with a cautious 51-run partnership earlier than the Pakistan captain fell sufferer to Gus Atkinson within the 14th over. He scored 38. Rizwan was then concerned in a short partnership with Saud Shakeel and took Pakistan to breach the 100-run mark earlier than Moeen Ali castled him. He scored 36 off 51 balls.
Saud was then joined by Agha Salman and each added 26 runs for the fifth wicket earlier than England spinners struck in fast succession to depart Pakistan reeling at 191/9 with their mainstay Agha additionally strolling again to the dugout. Agha cracked 45-ball 51 which featured 6 fours and a six.
Pakistan’s tailenders Haris Rauf and M Wasim Jr provided nodesk resistance on the backend because the duo put collectively a 53-run partnership. Rauf dominated the entertaining 10th-wicket stand along with his quickfire 35 off 23 ball whereas Wasim Jr struck unbeaten 16. David Willey led the bowling assault in his ultimate ODI look for England with 3/56, adopted by A Rashid, Atkinson and Moeen choosing up two wickets every.
England’s batting lineup justified their captain Jos Buttler’s decision to bat first as they racked up a large complete on the board. Opening batters Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow laid a strong basis for a giant complete, courtesy of an impressive 82-run stand, which lasted when Iftikhar eliminated Malan (31) in 14th over.
Bairstow then stitched a short 26-run partnership with Joe Root earlier than Haris despatched him packing in 19th over. He scored 59 off 61 balls, hitting 7 fours and a six. Root then joined Stokes to place England in a commanding position as pair added 132 runs for third wicket with each scoring half-centuries earlier than each fell in fast succession, inflicting England to slide to 257/four in 42.2 overs.
Stokes contributed 84 off 76 balls, hitting 11 fours and two sixes whereas Root scored 72-ball 60. Following their departure, Jos Buttler and Harry Brook knitted a brisk 45-run companionship to take the defending champions previous the 300-run mark.
Brook scored 30 whereas Buttler struck a fast 28. Later, David Willey’s quickfire 15-run cameo bolstered England’s complete to 337/9. Haris Rauf led the bowling assault for Pakistan of their final ICC World Cup 2023 fixture with 3/64, adopted by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr, who took two every.