England concluded their World Cup journey with a commendable 93-run triumph over Pakistan on Saturday. Despite this victory, the 1992 World Cup winners’ hopes of advancing to the semifinals were dashed. England’s campaign was marred by six losses in seven matches, sparking calls for a revamp of their one-day team.
Opting to bat first at Eden Gardens, England amassed a formidable 337-9, marked by half-centuries from Jonny Bairstow (59), Joe Root (60), and Ben Stokes (84). This was England’s third total surpassing 300 in the tournament.
Pakistan’s chase faltered, and they were dismissed for 244 in the 44th over, marking their fifth defeat in nine games. Consequently, New Zealand secured a semifinal berth, joining India, South Africa, and Australia. Despite their underwhelming performance, England has qualified for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
David Willey, awarded player of the match, expressed disappointment over England’s overall performance in the tournament, acknowledging the squad’s immense potential yet underwhelming execution.
England’s innings began solidly, with Malan (31) and Bairstow setting the foundation. Although Root and Stokes maintained the momentum, the flow of boundaries was not prolific. Pakistan’s fielding errors, including dropped catches by Shaheen Afridi and a boundary mishap by Haris Rauf, contributed to England’s high score.
Pakistan faced an unlikely target, needing to chase down the total in just 6.4 overs to surpass New Zealand for a semifinal spot. Willey, in his final appearance for England, swiftly removed the Pakistani openers.
Key contributions from Babar Azam (38) and Mohammad Rizwan (36) were insufficient to alter the match’s trajectory. Lower down the order, Agha Salman’s 51 and Rauf’s brisk 35, featuring three sixes, were notable but ultimately inconsequential.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s World Cup journey, Babar Azam emphasized the need for introspection and a focus on rebuilding under his leadership, aiming to draw lessons from both the successes and shortcomings of their campaign.
