Ben Stokes and Sam Curran shined on the biggest occasion as England defeated Pakistan by five wickets to clinch the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Melbourne on Sunday. With this, England also became the sport’s first dual white-ball champions, winning 50-over and 20-over titles.
After electing to bowl first, the Jos Buttler-led side held Babar Azam’s Pakistan to 137-8 in front of 80,462 fans at a heaving Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), with all-rounder Curran bagging 3/12 and leg-spinner Adil Rashid picking up two wickets for 22.
In the post-match presentation, Buttler stated Stokes is the ultimate competitor, insisting that England banks on his wealth of experience.
“He’s the ultimate competitor. In anything he does, a hell of a lot of experience to bank on, he timed it perfectly the impetus he and Moeen had took it away from Pakistan,” said Buttler.
The 32-year-old added: “This is the icing on the cake, to win the T20 World Cup, just immensely proud. A long journey and a few changes, but we’re reaping the rewards. Fantastic tournament, playing in Pakistan (before the ICC event) was valuable for the group.”
Here is how the cricket fraternity reacted to England’s win:
Well done England! Undoubtedly the best team in the tourney👏
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) November 13, 2022
Congratulations in laws !! @benstokes38 great knock in a big pressure game !! #PakistanVsEngland #T20WorldCupFinal
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) November 13, 2022
Many many congratulations to England on their tremendous win against Pakistan in the #T20WorldCup2022 finals, outstanding efforts put in by both teams and hats off to @benstokes38 on his top class performance.#EngvsPak
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) November 13, 2022
Well played England. Duly deserved for truly being outstanding in the white ball game for the last 5 years 👑 👑👑. Pakistan showed great spirit to get the final and will get even better.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) November 13, 2022
Scenes around 10 Downing Street tonight 😅 Congratulations England, richly deserved 👏🏽🏆 #PAKvENG #T20WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/vmOFAo9OG2
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) November 13, 2022
Ben Stokes is such an incredible player for the big nights. 2019 finals. That must-win game vs Sri Lanka. And tonight at the MCG. #T20WorldCupFinal #EngvPak
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 13, 2022
Congratulations England on winning your 2nd ICC T20 World Cup. 🏆
Fantastic achievement.@ECB_cricket @benstokes38 @josbuttler #T20WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/yDPJp8XOUk— Ashoke Dinda (@dindaashoke) November 13, 2022
England are the best white ball team in the world.They have an incredible group of players,throughly deserve to now hold both white ball WCs .. In Ben stokes they have a player who just knows how to win the big moments .. Great teams need Great individuals.. England have plenty
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 13, 2022
Never in doubt @englandcricket ..congrats 🏆 #T20WorldCup #ENGvPAK
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) November 13, 2022
Amazing from England! Never in doubt.
— Steven Finn (@finnysteve) November 13, 2022
Ben Stokes. #T20worldcup
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) November 13, 2022
The white ball champions are England and rightly so. Take a bow Ben stokes from Kolkata to 2019 and now 2022. Man of steel #T20WorldCupFinal #EngvsPak #cricket
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) November 13, 2022
What a great match we hv just witnessed . Congratulations @ECB_cricket @josbuttler A well deserved win for England in #T20WorldCupFinal . @benstokes38 rose to the occasion & played a brilliant innings.some outstanding bowling by @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/QUIk03lsx5
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 13, 2022
And it's @benstokes38 yet again! Congratulations @ECB_cricket on winning the #T20WorldCup 👏
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) November 13, 2022
Ben Stokes is born for these situations!! 😍😍😍😍🏴
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) November 13, 2022
Congratulations to England. Well deserved. Had to change there line up for the finals and were able to adjust. Been the most aggressive team over the last couple of years. Reward for risk. Pakistan great fight. #ENGvPAK #T20WorldCupFinal
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) November 13, 2022
Bowlers win you tournaments 😍 congratulations @CurranSM!!
— Kate Cross (@katecross16) November 13, 2022
The batting side dug a hole that even the worlds best bowling couldn’t fill. Outstanding effort by the team to get to the final against all odds and a great game of cricket. England came well prepared. Chin up boys, we are the runners up of the #T20WorldCup https://t.co/xbRAonpIKS
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) November 13, 2022