PAK vs ENG LIVE: Pakistan will face-off England in the T20 World Cup 2022 final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Both teams will be vying for their second title in the marquee event. It will be the clash of the titans as both sides looked aggressive in their approach in the semi-finals and produced an all-round performance. Follow Pakistan vs England Final Live & ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Live Updates with InsideSport.IN
Pakistan thrashed New Zealand by seven wickets in the first semi-final while England decimated India by 10 wickets in the second final four match. However, when the top two sides face-off, a high-voltage drama is well on the cards and can produce some fine match-ups.
Let us have a look at the top 5 key battles that can be expected in the match.
🎆 Pakistan 🆚 England 🎆
Melbourne awaits the grand finale! #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/RYSnrwqNl9
— ICC (@ICC) November 10, 2022
PAK vs ENG LIVE: Shaheen Afridi vs Jos Buttler to Sam Curran vs Babar Azam – Check Top 5 Key Battles ahead of Melbourne FINAL showdown
Shaheen Afridi vs Jos Buttler
Premier Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi will look to capitalise on the bounce on offer at the MCG and get rid of England captain Jos Buttler inside the powerplay. But the challenge could turn out to be tricky as the power-hitting Buttler will look to unsettle Afridi early with his fearless intent from the onset. His ability to play the waiting game and smack the odd-ball to the fence might also turn out to be frustrating for the Pakistan fast bowler if he fails to get rid of him early.
To support Afridi’s case, it will not be easy for the English opener to get free-flowing runs as he has struck eight times in the first over in the T20I matches. The worry for Buttler doesn’t end there as Afridi has sent packing the right-handed batters 30 times in the shortest format. So, all-in-all Afridi vs Buttler will be the biggest battle to watch out for in the final showdown.
Sam Curran vs Babar Azam
After recovering to full-fitness following a lower-back stress fracture in 2021, Curran has emerged as the ‘X-factor’ in the England side. He could be relied on with the new ball while he continues to establish himself as a dependable bowler in the death overs.
Curran, the bowler, however will have a major challenge to face in form of one of the most established T20 batter Babar Azam. The Pakistan captain played his best knock of the T20 World Cup 2022 in the semi-finals and will be looking to carry on the momentum in the final. And the young English all-rounder will have to use his variations to the fore to get the better off Azam.
Moeen Ali vs Shan Masood
At MCG, where spinners hardly get any buy, England off-spinner Moeen Ali could well be tested against Pakistan batter Shan Masood. The top-order batter has looked resilient throughout the T20 World Cup 2022. He has held the fort for Pakistan in the initial games where the opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan struggled.
To make it worse, Ali has a rather dismal record against left-handed batters in the shortest format. He has scalped only three wickets from 14 matches and has conceded 140 runs at an average of 46.66 in the T20s. If Ali and Masood face-off in the final the odds will favour the Pakistan batter until the Englishman can pull a rabbit out of his hat.
Shadab Khan vs Liam Livingstone
Shadab Khan vs Liam Livingstone will be one of the most mouth-watering contests in the T20 World Cup 2022 final. While Shadab is the joint-most wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup, Livingstone is known for his slog-hitting prowess.
However, two major factors turns the contest towards the leg-spinner on paper. Livingstone has not been in the best of his form in the T20 World Cup 2022 while Shadab has scalped 11 wickets in 11 matches against the right-handers. Although, on his day, Livingstone can go all guns blazing and will look to capitalise on the Melbourne wicket which doesn’t provide much assistance to the spinners.
Haris Rauf vs Ben Stokes
With premier all-rounder Ben Stokes not looking at the best of his form, ace Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf can cause some trouble to the Englishman. Rauf has used his stock deliveries and variations in pace to the fore in the T20 World Cup 2022 and it has worked wonders for him. His natural aggression will be up against Stokes’ when the two rivals take on each other at the Melbourne final.
