Home ›› 15 Nov 2022 ›› Editorial
England won the T20 World Cup in emphatic style beating Pakistan by five wickets with one over to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. It was their second title in, what many observers say, the most thrilling form of the game.
As a matter of fact with this win England is currently the king of white ball cricket as they are also the One Day International Champions. Cricket as is well known was invented in England and both in the longer and shorter formats they are a force to be reckoned with.
England started the tournament as one of the favourites. However they receive a jolt in their second match with a shocking loss against minnows Ireland. With the benefit of hindsight that the defeat came as a wake-up call for England as they pulled up their socks.
It was a cakewalk for England in the semi-final against the powerful Indian team. The manner of their victory was breathtakingly dominant to say the least. India simply did not have a chance as English openers blasted their bowlers to all corners of the field and won with 25 balls in hand. Clearly the spectacular performance in the previous match made the team raring to go in the final against, judging by early form in the tournament, a somewhat unexpected opponents Pakistan.
Unlike England, few of the cricketing pundits were prepared to give the Pakistanis any opportunity to go pass the group stage, let alone reach the final. They were lack lustre and listless after giving Indi a tough fight. Nothing exemplified this more than the way Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe. However defying all odds they dealt South Africa a crushing defeat. Then a series of unlikely events coalesced to ensure that they reach the semi-final against another tournament favourite New Zealand.
Pakistan looked strong and against the Kiwis and convincingly defeated the latter to become the first team in the tournament to reach the final. This victory brought about misty eyed nostalgia among their countless fans. For Pakistani fans nature conspired to deliver a repeat of the 1992 ODI World Cup, also held in Australia.
That was not to be as England put up a clinically efficient performance in front of a capacity crowd at the iconic MCG. However while they were defeated Pakistan was by no means disgraced. Even with their limitations they never gave up and made England earn their victory. Lady luck was also not with them with their leading fast bowler copping an injury at just the wrong moment.
The 21-year-old Sam Curran was a revelation in this World Cup. Throughout this World Cup he bowled his full allotment, culminating with figures of three for 12 in the final and awards for player of the final and of the tournament.
And of course they had in their team the redoubtable Ben Stokes, purveyor of dramatic finishes. Cometh the hour, cometh the man as the time tested adage goes. Stokes had an average World Cup before the final match. He played an uncharacteristically subdued innings in the final before lashing out against the Pakistani bowlers and ensuring the historic win.
Adil Rashid was another important cog in the English wheel. He took vital wickets at the most opportune time and was a livewire in the field. The captaincy of Jos Butler was exemplary and with his opening partner Alex hales they have the ability to tear apart any contemporary bowling attack.
We congratulate England, the deserving winners.
Bangladesh’s showing in the World Cup was far from satisfactory. Some of the Bangladeshi cricketers showed glimpses of brilliance but the sustained effort required to win tournaments is conspicuous by its absence.
