England’s Jos Buttler and Pakistan’s Babar Azam during the coin toss as cricket commentator and former cricketer Nasser Hussain looks on RushHourDaily/Andrew Boyers
Current champions England concluded their disappointing World Cup campaign with a 93-run victory over Pakistan on November 11th. This win denied the 1992 champions the opportunity to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament. England had already been eliminated after a series of poor performances, leading to calls for changes in their one-day squad.
Opting to bat first at Eden Gardens, England posted a strong total of 337-9. Three of their top four batsmen scored half-centuries, marking their third 300-plus total in the tournament. Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes all contributed to the impressive display, leaving fans wishing for more consistent performances throughout the tournament.
Pakistan were bowled out for 244 in the 44th over, resulting in their fifth loss in nine matches and their exit from the tournament. New Zealand, India, South Africa, and Australia have secured their places in the semi-finals, while England has secured a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Player-of-the-match David Willey expressed disappointment in England’s overall performance, stating that they have underperformed despite having a talented group of players. Despite this disappointment, Malan and Bairstow provided a solid start for England, followed by a steady partnership between Root and Stokes.
Pakistan’s fielding was subpar, with dropped catches and boundary mishaps. Facing a daunting target, Pakistan found themselves in the impossible position of needing to complete the chase in just 6.4 overs to qualify for the semi-finals. Willey, playing his last match for England, dismissed both Pakistan openers early on, setting the tone for the match.
Although Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan made decent starts, they were unable to convert them into big scores. Agha Salman and Haris Rauf made valuable contributions, but it was not enough to change the outcome of the match.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s campaign, Babar expressed the need to analyze their mistakes and take positives from the experience. He is determined to lead the team’s rebuild.
In conclusion, England ended their World Cup campaign on a high note with a convincing victory over Pakistan. Despite their early elimination, they showcased their potential and will now focus on regrouping for future tournaments.
Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in Kolkata; Editing by Hugh Lawson
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