England concluded their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign on a positive note, registering a convincing 93-run victory over Pakistan at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata.
Despite a challenging tournament, England’s win secured them a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Opting to bat first, England posted a formidable total of 337/9 in 50 overs, setting the stage for a dominant performance.
Ben Stokes played a pivotal role in England’s innings, smashing 84 runs off 76 balls, featuring 11 fours and 2 sixes. Opener Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root also made significant contributions, bolstering the team’s total.
The Pakistani bowlers struggled to make an impact, with the pacers failing to strike early and containing the flow of runs.
Haris Rauf emerged as the most effective bowler for Pakistan, claiming 3 wickets for 64 runs. Shahin Afridi and Mohammed Wasim Jr picked up two wickets each, but the bowling unit collectively conceded 210 runs in 30 overs.
Part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed proved to be economical, registering figures of 1/38 in 7 overs, while Shadab Khan went wicketless.
In response, Pakistan faced early setbacks, losing two wickets with only 10 runs on the board. Fakhar Zaman, a hero in the previous match, was dismissed for 1 run.
Although Babar Azam (38) and Mohammed Rizwan (36) stabilized the innings with a 50-run partnership, England maintained control. Salman Ali Agha’s patient half-century was in vain as Pakistan lost wickets consistently.
The lower-order batsmen, including Afridi (25), Wasim (16), and Rauf (35), made valuable contributions, allowing Pakistan to reach a total of 244.
David Willey led England’s bowling attack, claiming 3 wickets for 56 runs, while Gus Atkinson took 2 wickets for 45 runs. Spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali chipped in with two wickets each.
With this victory, England secured the 7th spot on the points table with 6 points, surpassing Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Netherlands, each with 4 points. According to ICC rules, only the top 8 teams in the World Cup qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Pakistan finished in the fifth spot with 8 points, tied with Afghanistan but placed higher due to a better net run rate. The win allows England to exit the tournament on a positive note, while Pakistan reflects on their campaign and prepares for future challenges.
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