Stokes half-century brings England white-ball glory with second T20 World Cup title

His half-century pushes England past a gritty Pakistan in a low-scoring final

Final score: England 138/5 in 19 overs v Pak 137/8

"I don't think I should be getting this, the way Stokesy played there... we're going to enjoy this occasion, very special. They had big square boundaries, so into the wicket, it offered for the seamers, nipping around and a challenge for the chase. The way I bowl, I go into the wicket with my slower balls and keep the batsmen guessing. World Champions, how good!"

Sam Curran

Sam Curran was awarded the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament.

After being named the Player of the Tournament, Curran said: "A little bit lost for words. We're going to enjoy this."

On Stokes: "People question him, but there's no questioning him... he's the man!"

"So proud of the boys, the position from the early tomorrow to now... we were nervous in the run-chase, but we knew we've got the firepower to get over the line. This doesn't happen often, so we'll cherish this for a long time."

Adil Rashid

"In finals, especially chasing, you forgot all the hard work that came first. To restrict them to 130, the bowlers have to take a lot of credit. With Ireland being so early in the competition, we had to address it, we can't carry baggage in tournaments. The best teams take it on the chin, and move onto the next challenge. A pretty good evening."

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes proves to be a man for the big occasion as he guided his team to second T20 World Cup win and a complete domination in the white-ball formats after claiming the ODI World Cup three years ago. He patiently waited for the last overs to break free and, with some impetus from Moeen Ali (19), he blasted his team past the finishing line after scoring his first half-century in the shortest format for England. Pakistan made the subpar score look challenging with some wily bowling as the seamer nipped the ball away from the batsmen but the 138-run target ultimately proved to be insufficient.

Stokes lifts England to glory

Stokes (52 not out) battered one through midwicket from the full length, and seals England's to double World Cup glory.

Stokes, Ali in the groove

Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes took the attack to the Pakistan bowlers with 26 runs off eight deliveries to reduce the equation to 20 needed off 22 balls.

Shaheen off with injury

Pakistan bowling attack took a big blow when Shaheen Shah Afridi hobbled off with knee discomfort after taking Brooks' catch. He came on momentarily for a ball but could not continue after the first delivery.

Pressure makes way for reward

A gem of an over by Naseem Shah where he went past Ben Stokes' edge three times, with one referred for review, was followed by Shadab luring Harry Brooks (20) forward and looping a catch to cover. England were reduced to 86 for 4 in the 13th over as Pakistan fought their way back.

England cruising at the halfway mark

Ben Stokes and Harry Brook are pushing through the mid-overs as England reached 77 for 3 after 10 overs. Pakistan made little blunder in the field while the the expansive Melbourne ground made it hard to scope out boundaries for the English batsmen.

Buttler falls as England lose three in powerplay

After an over filled with balls shaping past the batsman's edge, Haris Rauf blazed in a length delivery to catch a slim edge off Jos Buttler through to Mohammad Rizwan. England reduced to 45 for 3 in the sixth over.

Rauf takes out Salt

Haris Rauf banged it length to Phil Salt (10) who tries to pull but gets no hold of the ball and pops a catch to midwicket, spicing up the contest with the second wicket in the powerplay as England slipped to 32 for 2 in the fourth over.

Afridi strikes in first over

After shaping away from the batsman a couple of times, Afridi drew first blood going through the gates of Alex Hales (1) lifting the partisan crowd to a roar in hopes of a fighting comeback from Pakistan. England 7 for 1 after the first over, eighth time Shaheen picked up a wicket in his first over for Pakistan in T20s.

"As long as the collective is doing well, it's not an individual game. Assess the pitch and conditions, they may like the ball a bit quicker, so slowing it up was my strength. A lot of twos and threes out there, so run hard to the boundary fielders, and be courageous. If we'd been offered 137 so we'd have been very happy."

Adil Rashid

Pakistan end on below par 137

England have come up with a daunting display as Pakistan could manage only 18 runs at the expense of four wickets in the last four overs. Sam Curran came up with the goods finishing 3-12 while Adil Rashid returned a crucial 2-22. Chris Jordan complemented the efforts bagging 2-27.

Pakistan hopes of late flourish dented

Curran and Jordan took out two set batsmen Masood (38) and Shadab (20) in quick succession putting Pakistan's hopes of wrapping up the innings on a high to the sword. Pakistan were 123 for 6 in 17.2 overs

Pakistan reach 100

Babar's men reached 106 for 4 in 15 overs. Masood and Shadab were threatening to break free with eyes on160 on a track with formidable pace and bounce.

England on a roll

Ben Stokes decked one hard to catch a slim edge from Iftikhar (0) for a caught behind as Pakistan slipped to 85 for 4 in 12.2 overs. Pakistan runnings out of wickets and overs to challenge England.

Babar undone by Rashid google

As Pakistan were setting up for a flourish, Rashid bagged Babar's wicket with a googly. The ball gripped and turned back into his attempted cut through the off-side, and looped back to the bowler off the splice for a big turning point. Babar walked back to the hutch for 32.

Pakistan 84 for 3 in 11.1 overs.

Pakistan 6.8 RPO at halfway mark

England have been able to restrict any overblown charge from Pakistan in the first 10 overs, but Babar is watching the deliveries quickly and picking up the length fairly quickly. With a lot of batting still to come, Buttler will look to put the right fielders at the right spot the last 10 overs.

Rashid strikes first ball

Adil Rashid tossed it up to lure in Mohammad Haris (8) who launched it towards long on where Ben Stokes pouched a safe catch to puncture Pakistan attack on 45 for 2 in 7.1 overs.

Eventful powerplay

The powerplay swung both ways but remained poised with a wicket at the latter half of a steady start. Babar is looking to set off with the able hands of Mohammad Haris at the other end. The surface is producing good bounce and carry.

Pakistan 39 for 1 in 6 overs.

Curran takes out Rizwan

An over after finding the middle of his bat with a six, Mohammad Rizwan (15) drove Sam Curran and dragged one leaving his body on to the timber. Curran shows mettle by breaking vaunted partnership. Pakistan 29 for 1 in 4.2 overs.

Steady start

Openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan set off to a solid start as Sam Curran and Chris Woakes kept things tight. Ben Stokes began the bowling with a no-ball followed by a wide, though Rizwan was unable to put the free-hit to good use.

After four overs, Pakistan are 28 for no loss.

Teams unchanged as England bowl

England won the toss and will field first in the T20 World Cup final against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Both teams were unchanged from their semi-finals.

Pakistan: 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Mohammad Haris, 4 Shan Masood, 5 Iftikhar Ahmed, 6 Mohammad Nawaz, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Mohammad Wasim, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi.

England: 1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Phil Salt, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Chris Woakes, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Adil Rashid.