How a professional modern T20 side won the World Cup

England team with the T20 World Cup 

T20 World Cup winning sides have a way of declaring their right to the title in the semi-finals. Last year, Australia did it against Pakistan in their semi-final by chasing a stiff target with some delightful power hitting during the last 5 overs. West Indies did it twice in the semi-finals in 2012 (against Australia) and 2014 (against India) through brute force. This year it was England’s turn. Pakistan had a decent win against the Kiwis no doubt, but it was England who made a firm statement to the title in their semi-final by simply demolishing India. They were professional, classy and played with sheer power and intent. T20 cricket is primarily about batting and batting was England’s forte. 

Before the final, everyone believed that the outcome would be decided between the main strongpoints of the two sides: England’s batting and Pakistan’s bowling. It was billed as a tussle between the best modern T20 batting unit and the best all-round bowling unit. But, as it turned out, the winner was eventually decided based on the relatively weaker aspect of the two teams. Pakistan’s weak point (batting) found England’s relative weak point (bowling) too hot to handle. They struggled to post a below-par 137 for 8 which was hardly sufficient to test England’s batting juggernaut.

India paid the price for being too conservative against England in the semi-final. But Pakistan knew that they didn’t need to post a huge score on that wicket, considering how lethal and potent their bowling attack was. Perhaps Pakistan were targeting something in the range of 160+. But Pakistan couldn’t get going at any stage; or rather the variety and class in the England bowling attack didn’t allow them to get going! 

How well did Adel Rashid bowl again! He has tormented Babar Azam with his googly time and time again and it was no different in the final as well. Babar was simply bamboozled by the googly which broke back and tied him up for room. Earlier, in his very first ball, Rashid deceived the dangerous Mohammad Harris with a flighted delivery. Rashid may have struggled in the initial matches, but he delivered when it mattered most.

Sam Curran was outstanding again during the powerplay as well as at the death. Pakistan were 119 for 4 after 16 overs and were well poised for 160. But England’s death bowling, spearheaded by Curran, never permitted that. In this World Cup, Curran has bowled 52 balls between 17th and 20th overs, conceding just 41 runs, (including a single boundary!) and taken 9 wickets! Little wonder that he became the only specialist bowler to win the Man of the Series award in the T20 World Cup history.

A target of 138 would have been a cakewalk for a strong England batting line up against any other bowling attack. But not against Pakistan. Pakistan’s pace bowlers were an absolute delight to watch. They certainly threatened the England top order. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s unplayable delivery to Alex Hales and Naseem Shah’s well-directed thunderbolts delivered at an excellent length and a challenging line were simply mind-boggling.

But Jos Buttler was upto the mark too. After being beaten on three successive deliveries by Naseem, Buttler moved across the stumps and scooped a 150 km delivery with a flap of his wrists for six! There was a thin line between hitting that audacious six and getting bowled, but that is how Buttler plays his game. Naseem wasn’t rattled as he stuck to the off-stump line and beat Buttler again and again. It was a breathtaking Test match quality pace bowling spell by Naseem, perhaps the best spell bowled by any bowler in the match, which ended with ridiculously unjust figures of 4-0-30-0!  

Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Jos Buttler was the fan-cry ahead of the final, but it actually came down to Haris Rauf vs Jos Buttler. Rauf, who was nursing a stiff leg for most part of the match, bowled a quick one outside the off stump, seaming away and lifting. Buttler, having escaped an entire over against Naseem earlier, poked at it and got a nick to the keeper. It was a huge moment in the game and at that stage, the game was nicely in the balance. But England had Ben Stokes, a serial winner who seem to get high whenever there is pressure!

At the end, Afridi was forced off with a knee injury which made England’s chase easier. Perhaps, England would have still crossed the line even if Afridi was there to complete his spell, considering the depth in their batting with so many hitters and all-rounders packed in the line-up. That has been England’s policy in white ball cricket in recent years and it’s paying rich dividends for them. A dogged Ben Stokes was always there to soak up pressure in these big games, holding one end; something he does best. 

England were the worthy winners. Jos Buttler led from the front and everyone else chipped in. It was a classy all-round effort by the entire England team, full of professionals. Baring Moeen Ali and Sam Curran, all other key English players have played in Australia’s Big Bash League. That would have helped too. England were a complete T20 side. One that day, they were too good for a young, exciting, spirited but unpredictable Pakistani outfit.