Pakistan vs England LIVE! Stokes heroics - T20 World Cup final result, match stream and latest updates today

Pakistan vs England LIVE!

England beat Pakistan by five wickets in a pulsating final T20 World Cup Final. Chasing 138 in in Melbourne, Ben Stokes further wrote himself into English cricket folklore by guiding England to victory with 52 not out under intense pressure. The win means England become the first team to hold the men’s 20 and 50-over world titles.

Stokes was there at the end, as he was in the 2019 50-over World Cup Final three years ago. He capitalised on a cruel injury to Pakistan left-armer pace bowler Shaheen Afridi and took his side to victory with six balls to spare. This could be the last dance for a number of the England squad - including Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan and Adil Rashid - though Jos Buttler insists otherwise.

Follow Standard Sport’s dedicated LIVE blog below for reaction, including expert insight and analysis from cricket correspondent Malik Ouzia.

T20 World Cup final latest

• Buttler: ‘Stokes is the ultimate competitor’

• Stokes: Bowlers won us the game

• Ali savours 'amazing' World Cup success

• Morgan: England ‘now regarded as one of the great sides’

• Tournament player ratings: Curran outstanding

• Sam Curran named Player of the Tournament

Tournament player ratings: Curran outstanding

13:42 , Giuseppe Muro

Jos Buttler 9

England’s top run scorer with 225 at an average of 45, including a brilliant 80* against India in the semi-final. Even in the final, his 26 off 17 on a wicket that no other player scored fluently on ensured England were always ahead of the rate. Came into his own as a captain in the second half of the tournament, nailing match-ups and making excellent use of plethora of bowling options.

Alex Hales 9

Insisted this was not a tournament about redemption but clearly, it was. After three years in the international wilderness, answered the call for an opener and after slow start came alive with crucial knocks against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and then India in record breaking partnership with Buttler. 212 runs at 42 and set the tone so often.

Sam Curran 10

Incredible to think his place in the side was in doubt only a month ago, with questions over whether he was good enough to play as a frontline bowler. Now named player of the tournament after making virtually no impact with the bat. Took 13 wickets at an average of 11, including 3-12 in the final and England’s first T20 five-for against Afghanistan. Went a long way to solving England’s long-standing issues at the death.

Ben Stokes 9

Scored 110 runs at 37, took six wickets and four catches but, as ever, numbers tell only half the story. Saw England home in must-win against Sri Lanka and then produced yet another clutch performance in the final, where he scored maiden T20i half-century. Bowling was a huge plus, particularly with the new ball, which gave England tactical flexibility and filled void after Reece Topley’s injury.

Adil Rashid 9

Another who had a quiet start, then came alive with three sensational performances at the back end. How he finished with only four wickets is a mystery but proved his worth to this side yet again. Of all the double world champions, leg spinner will be toughest to replace.

Read Malik Ouzia’s full tournament player ratings here.

Sam Curran named Player of the Tournament

12:57 , Giuseppe Muro

Sam Curran has been named Player of the Tournament after finishing as the second-highest wicket taker with three wickets in the final against Pakistan.

The all-rounder took 3-12 and was named man of the match as England beat Pakistan as finished the tournament with 13 wickets at an average of 11.38.

Morgan: England ‘now regarded as one of the great sides'

12:56 , Giuseppe Muro

Former England captain Eoin Morgan believes the team can now be regarded as one of the great limited-overs sides.

Morgan told Sky Sports: "It is such an incredible feeling - pure joy, relief, happiness. This team deserves it. They've been through the mill in the group stages and they've produced close to their very best against India in the semi-final.

“Jos Buttler said, 'We don't want to be known as a team just for our style of play'. We were known like that in 50 overs then won the 50-over World Cup in 2019. In T20 they've now won something tangible to be regarded as one of the great sides. They were excellent."

12:44 , Giuseppe Muro

More from England's Ben Stokes speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "I didn't really take in the fact that we were the first men's team to hold both trophies till you really said it. It just shows where we are as a team.

“We all know the talent that we possess. We all have clarity from Jos [Buttler] and the team's management about what we want to do as a team and when you're clear what the team ethos is it makes it a lot easier. I am very proud. You don't get to win World Cups too often so to win two of them is pretty special.”

Buttler: ‘Stokes is the ultimate competitor'

12:39 , Giuseppe Muro

England captain Jos Buttler: “I’m so proud of everyone. It has been a long journey. There have been a few changes to how we have played over the years and we are reaping the rewards from that.

“It has been a fantastic tournament. We have been away a long time, we were away in Pakistan before then, which was valuable to us.

“This felt a long way away after the Ireland result, but the character we have shown in must-win games every time has been amazing.”

On impact of Matthew Mott: “He has fitted in really well. We have quite a few Aussies with us this tournament. He has given the players freedom and allowed the players to go out and trust themselves.”

On Adil Rashid’s performance: “That over was a huge moment in the game. A fantastic over from Adil. The last four games he has been fantastic. He is always the guy we throw the ball to to make things happen.”

12:38 , Giuseppe Muro

Ben Stokes and the big occasion. The man’s bottle knows no bounds.

The hero of Lord’s and Headingley in 2019 came up trumps for England again, this time in Melbourne, where Jos Buttler’s side beat Pakistan by five-wickets to win the T20 World Cup for the second time.

Read Malik Ouzia’s report on a pulsating final here.

12:34 , Giuseppe Muro

More from Ben Stokes: "I didn’t feel like it was out of our hands at all.I tried to make sure I stayed there as long as I possibly could at the end.

"It’s easier when you have a batter in at the end of the innings and it’s never really panic stations when it’s under eight runs an over and Mo [Moeen Ali] got us really going."

12:30 , Giuseppe Muro

Sam Curran finished as the second-highest wicket taker at the T20 World Cup after taking three wickets in the final.

The all-rounder took 3-12 and was named man of the match as England beat Pakistan by five wickets.

After receiving his man-of-the man award, Curran said: "I don't think I should be getting this. I think the way Stokesy played there, to get a 50 in the final, he has done it so many times for us!"

12:22 , Giuseppe Muro

12:14 , Giuseppe Muro

Jos Buttler lifts the trophy!

Fireworks shoot into the Melbourne sky. Streamers cover the England squad.

England are the T20 world champions.

12:05 , Giuseppe Muro

The England players are about to get their trophies. England become the first team to hold the men’s 20 and 50-over world titles. The Pakistan players look dejected as collect their runner-up medals.

12:02 , Giuseppe Muro

Moeen Ali: “This is one of the best days of my cricketing career. I feel as a team we deserved it. Over a long time we've played some amazing cricket and then to win today against a brilliant Pakistan side is an amazing feeling.”

11:53 , Giuseppe Muro

Chris Woakes: “I think the wicket offered a little bit to the quick bowlers, held length, different bounce and a bit of nip. Generally it was probably a 160 pitch but the occasion gets the better of people and rightly so. But we got over the line and that's all that matters.”

11:52 , Giuseppe Muro

Lord's 2019, Headingley 2019 and now this for Ben Stokes.

“It’s been a good one,” says Stokes, who adds: “The way that we bowled - Adil Rashid, Sam Curran – that is what won us the game. It was a tricky wicket so restrict them to 137, the bowlers have got to take a lot of credit for that. I feel we have lived up to all the challenges that we have had thrown at us throughout the tournament.”

11:41 , Malik Ouzia

It won’t surprise you to hear that Sweet Caroline is blaring already. England are the first men’s team to ever hold the 50-over and T20 world titles at the same time.

11:39 , Malik Ouzia

A huge roar from Ben Stokes. What a difference from five years ago, when it was his final over dispatched by Carlos Brathwaite to give West Indies the World Cup.

11:37 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 138/5 (19.0 overs)

Stokes 52, Livingstone 1

England win by five wickets!

England win the T20 World Cup!

11:36 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 137/5 (18.4 overs)

Stokes 51, Livingstone 1

Liam Livingstone the new man in and on strike, six needed but he’s not tempted into the big shot, just nudging the single to give Stokes the strike back.

Full toss, Stokes times it brilliantly and - remarkably - Stokes brings up his first ever T20I half-century.

One to win…

11:33 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Moeen b Wasim 19

ENG 132/5 (18.2 overs)

Moeen gives himself room but Wasim is too clever and bowls him with a cracking yorker.

Moeen can be happy with his work, though, 19 off 13 that has helped swing this final England’s way.

11:31 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 131/4 (18.0 overs)

Stokes 46, Moeen 19

So, England need just 12 off three overs and Babar has to go back to Haris Rauf. Only wickets will do for Pakistan.

Stokes wants this done, haring back for a risky second and they get there. Seven from 12 needed.

11:27 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 126/4 (17.0 overs)

Stokes 42, Moeen 18

Is that the game done? Suddenly England are motoring, Moeen going over the top for four more. Belief draining from Pakistan.

Four more! Clubbed into the leg side behind square, no one there.

Top edge! It’s all going England’s way, four more to Moeen.

11:22 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 110/4 (16.0 overs)

Stokes 39, Moeen 4

Do England get after him? Stokes tries to and thinks he’s a goner!

Goes down the ground, knows he hasn’t got it, thinks he’s picked out the man. Doesn’t carry, though.

Shot! Stokes gets a bit of width and frees the arms, middles it through extra cover again.

Six! This is the over! Ben Stokes has come alive, same area of the ground but all the way this time.

Suddenly, England need 28 off four overs to win the World Cup.

11:19 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 97/4 (15.1 overs)

Stokes 28, Moeen 3

Shaheen is back into the attack. Is he fit? England have actually crept below the DLS par score now.

Afridi can hardly move here, hobbling through his run-up and still presenting a peach of a seam. Just the one ball and he’s going off. How crucial could that be - Pakistan were banking on two more overs from him at the death.

Iftikhar Ahmed will have to bowl.

11:17 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 97/4 (15.0 overs)

Stokes 28, Moeen 3

The crowd are up and not only because Shaheen is back on the field. Haris Rauf is back into the attack.

Has this carried? Nope, not quite, as Stokes edges firmly to backwards point.

Stokes has a huge heave and gets no bat on it but then drills through extra cover for a much-needed boundary.

England needed 61 off 10 overs - they’ve had half of them and are still 41 runs away.

11:11 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 89/4 (14.0 overs)

Stokes 21, Moeen 2

Naseem Shah in for his final over. He’s been brilliant without reward so far. The run rate is just starting to creep up here with the dots - and the pressure - building.

Just two runs off the over.

11:07 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 87/4 (13.0 overs)

Stokes 20, Moeen 1

Making that catch, Shaheen seems to have done himself a mischief. Not sure if it’s his knee as he slides.

Anyway, Moeen is in at six for England. 51 from 42 needed.

11:04 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Brook c Afridi b Shadab 20

ENG 84/4 (12.3 overs)

WinViz has England at 85 percent here. It might be going down a fraction now though!

Brook goes over cover and Shaheen is onto it like a flash, running in off the boundary to take sliding catch.

11:01 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 82/3 (12.0 overs)

Brook 18, Stokes 18

Naseem Shah is back. Haris Rauf, incidentally, spent some time off the field after his last over and is back on but doesn’t look to be moving especially easily.

Mind you, he’s shifted here. That is an unbelievable diving stop on the boundary to save a run and the MCG rises when the replay is shown.

How many times has Naseem beaten the outside edge here? Does Stokes a couple more times.

And again! Pakistan are convinced it’s taken an edge this time and at the last second Babar sends it upstairs…

10:55 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 79/3 (11.0 overs)

Brook 15, Stokes 18

Run-out chance!

Stokes nails to Nawaz at cover who picks up and throws sharply. Brook wasn’t even really looking for the run but was backing up and the fielding was so swift that had it hit the stumps he would’ve been a goner.

10:50 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 77/3 (10.0 overs)

Brook 14, Stokes 17

Misfield gifts England a single - can’t afford many of those, Pakistan.

Nor deliveries like that. Wasim misses his yorker, goes too full and Stokes helps it through the offside for four.

That’s ten overs done, too, so whatever happens now with the weather, this game will be settled today.

10:46 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 69/3 (9.0 overs)

Brook 12, Stokes 11

Harry Brook needed a bit of treatment but it looks like he’ll be grand. Stokes on strike as Shadab continues, tries to reverse sweep and gets a little bottom edge on it that trickles past the stumps and away for four.

A bit of calm, which suits England more than Pakistan. They’re halfway there.

10:40 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 61/3 (8.0 overs)

Brook 10, Stokes 5

The required rate is only a smidge more than a run-a-ball so Pakistan need to remain on the attack here. They still need wickets.

An over of relative calm, a little loose from Wasim, though he follows Brook well with his final delivery and the Yorkshire man wears a painful one on the arm.

10:34 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 54/3 (7.0 overs)

Brook 7, Stokes 3

Babar turns to spin as soon as the powerplay is over as Shadab comes on and immediately beats the outside edge of Brook’s bat.

England need to run these twos hard and use the outfield as Pakistan did at times.

10:30 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 49/3 (6.0 overs)

Brook 4, Stokes 1

Harry Brook, who had been in brilliant form all year until this tournament started but has not made a run since it began, is in at five.

He’s got four of them there, mind. Cracking little stroke through midwicket.

End of the powerplay. Couldn’t call it.

10:28 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Buttler c Rizwan b Rauf 26

ENG 45/3 (5.3 overs)

Rauf to bowl the final over of the powerplay. And he’s got the big wicket!

Buttler edges through to Rizwan and Buttler is on his way. My, oh my this is finely poised now!

10:24 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 43/2 (5.0 overs)

Buttler 26, Stokes 0

Chasing 138, run rate isn’t an issue for England, though of course there is the possibility of some rain, still, and they’ll have to keep an eye on DLS.

Stokes, you’d think, will play the sensible, anchor innings here but that’s easier said than done because Naseem is finding movement. Too much there, though, as it swings down the leg side and beats Rizwan. Five wides.

Buttler cannot get bat on it all of a sudden, Naseem beating the edge three times and finally a slip will come in.

Wow! That’s how you relive the pressure. Buttler on the scoop, all the way for six. Some stones on him.

10:17 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 32/2 (4.0 overs)

Buttler 20, Stokes 0

So it’s Ben Stokes and it’s Jos Buttler. We’ve been here before, haven’t we?

10:15 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Salt c Iftikhar b Rauf 10

ENG 32/2 (3.3 overs)

Haris Rauf into the attack. Had a cracking series against England on the eve of this tournament but Phil Salt enjoyed some success there, too, and clips him square off his pads for four to start the over.

Gone now though! Picks out Iftikhar Ahmed at midwicket and England are two-down. Not a great shot.

10:11 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 28/1 (3.0 overs)

Salt 6, Buttler 20

Now then. Full ball from Shaheen, looks like it’s hit Salt high on the thigh but it’s dipping and Pakistan want a look at this. Phew. Salt survives, impact just about outside leg stump.

Jos Buttler is in the groove here, I tell you. Times beautifully through midwicket again and picks up another boundary.

10:05 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 21/1 (2.0 overs)

Salt 5, Buttler 15

Naseem Shah into the attack, Pakistan on the prowl. His first ball swings away again but Jos Buttler drives the second beautifully through the covers for the first boundary of the innings. And again!

Cracking response from the England captain.

Phil Salt is in to bat for the first time in the tournament and he’s up and running with an inside edge that runs fine for four more. Profitable over for England after the loss of that early wicket.

10:00 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Hales b Afridi 1

ENG 7/1 (1.0 overs)

Wow. Best of luck with that.

It’s an absolute beauty from Shaheen Shah Afridi, back through the gate and Hales is beaten all ends up as the ball clatters into the stumps.

Just what Pakistan needed.

09:59 , Malik Ouzia

ENG 7/0 (0.5 overs)

Buttler 6, Hales 1

A little straight from Shaheen and Buttler flicks it into the leg-side off his toes. Huge boundary and it won’t get there but they get through for three comfortably.

A little push and Hales is off the mark, too.

Ooof, that’s more like it. Better length from Afridi and it nips past the outside edge. He thinks it’s taken it but no one else is interested.

09:54 , Malik Ouzia

Here come Alex Hales and Jos Buttler. These two can finish this final themselves, as they showed against India.

But Pakistan’s trump card is their bowling. Shaheen Shah Afridi will open up and you can bet that if there’s any swing on offer, he’ll find it.

09:47 , Malik Ouzia

Well, it’s a World Cup final, we’ve seen some turn in the pitch and this certainly won’t be straightforward for England.

But my word, they’d have taken that a couple of hours ago.

09:44 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 137/8 (20.0 overs)

Afridi 5, Raud 1

Much needed boundary! Off the top edge, over the ‘keeper.

England need 138 to win the T20 World Cup.

09:41 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Wasim c Livingstone b Jordan 4

PAK 131/8 (19.3 overs)

Into the final over then, Jordan to bowl it and Pakistan in need of a huge finish. Couple of swings, couple of misses, good start from CJ.

There are lots of glum Pakistan faces in the crowd.

They’re even glummer now! Wasim heaves and the magnet that is Livingstone is under it.

09:38 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 131/7 (19.0 overs)

Afridi 1, Wasim 4

Sam Curran finishes his first World Cup final with figures of 3-12. Some player.

09:36 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Nawaz c Livingstone b Curran 5

PAK 129/7 (18.3 overs)

Curran’s got another and Pakistan are going down in tame fashion here. Clipped straight to Livingstone in the deep.

09:33 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 127/6 (18.0 overs)

Wasim 3, Nawaz 3

Dropped!

Wasim drives to Brook at point, who dives, seems to have it but can’t hold on. There’s an overthrow to rub salt in the wound and Pakistan get three.

Two to go.

09:30 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Shadab c Woakes b Jordan 20

PAK 123/6 (17.2 overs)

Pakistan are in real, real trouble now. Shadab up in the air, pouched by Woakes and they’re going to have to rely on some hitting from the bowlers to give them something to bowl at.

09:28 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 122/5 (17.0 overs)

Nawaz 1, Shadab 20

Mohammad Nawaz in at seven. Curran has one over left and has got figures of 2-8 so far.

09:26 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Masood c Livingstone b Curran 38

PAK 121/5 (16.3 overs)

And they have broken it!

Of course, it’s Sam Curran! What a tournament he’s having. Shan Masood picks out Livingstone at midwicket and Pakistan are five-down.

09:22 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 119/4 (16.0 overs)

Masood 36, Shadab 20

Ben Stokes returns, so he is going to get through his full quota in this final. You’d imagine it’ll be two each from Sam Curran and Chris Jordan after this.

Shadab nails through cover and Salt comes sprinting round the boundary after it. He’s quick and he gets there but can only parry and momentum takes both it and him into the sponge.

Much better fielding on the opposite boundary as Curran hooks it back for Livingstone to throw, though it only saves a run.

England could do with breaking this partnership.

09:17 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 106/4 (15.0 overs)

Masood 34, Shadab 10

Chris Jordan returns and immediately pings Masood on the helmet. He’ll be fine but there’s a pause while all the mandatory checks are carried out.

Shadab gets a hefty edge down towards Alex Hales at third man but it won’t get to him.

Shot. Masood gets on top of the bounce and drives down into the deck and through cover for four.

09:10 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 98/4 (14.0 overs)

Masood 28, Shadab 8

Adil Rashid in for his final spell. Ideally you’d say Pakistan should just see him out but can they afford to let an over pass?

No, is the answer and that’s a lovely shot from Shadab. Didn’t go hard at it but times it perfectly back over the bowler’s head for four.

Rashid is done - he finishes with figures of 2-22. Brilliant spell.

09:07 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 90/4 (14.0 overs)

Masood 26, Shadab 2

Shadab Khan in at six. Pakistan do not bat anything like as deep as England so you’d think these two are going to have to get the bulk of the runs to get them up to something like a defendable total.

09:04 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Iftikhar c Buttler b Stokes 0

PAK 85/4 (13.2 overs)

Got him! England on a roll now! Iftikhar feathers behind and Pakistan are four down.

09:00 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 84/3 (12.0 overs)

Masood 23, Iftikhar 0

Rashid is finding bags of turn here and England are on the attack with Moeen in at slip. Iftikhar Ahmed is in at five.

Wicket maiden. Sensational from Rashid.

08:58 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Babar c&b Rashid 32

PAK 84/3 (11.1 overs)

Rashid does it again! First ball of the over, Babar doesn’t pick the googly, fiddles one back at the bowler and Rashid makes the ground well to take a smart diving catch.

08:56 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 84/2 (11.0 overs)

Babar 32, Masood 23

Liam Livingstone to turn his arm over now. Shan comes down the track and nails one straight back at the all-rounder, who holds it well.

Ooof, no stopping that though. Creamed through Livingstone, through Babar, through the umpire and down the ground for four.

Six! Shan Masood is taking Livingstone down here. He doesn’t even get all of this and it goes a mile in the air but it’s long enough.

Excellent over for Pakistan.

08:51 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 68/2 (10.0 overs)

Babar 29, Masood 11

These two are content to just rotate strike as Rashid returns. England’s fielders are edging closer in off the rope in a bid to stop these twos.

Misfield from Curran, though, and they’ll come back anyway. That’s the halfway stage.

08:47 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 59/2 (9.0 overs)

Babar 27, Masood 5

Chris Jordan into the attack and Babar tucks nicely off the hip, finds a gap behind square and gets four.

Again, Pakistan using these huge boundaries to scamper the twos.

08:43 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 50/2 (8.0 overs)

Babar 22, Masood 1

He had a quiet start to the tournament but my word has Adil Rashid come alive in these last few games.

Shan Masood the new man in, who won’t play with anything like the intent of the man he’s replaced.

08:40 , Malik Ouzia

WICKET! Haris c Stokes b Rashid 8

PAK 45/2 (7.1 overs)

Adil Rashid into the attack then - and strikes first ball!

Haris goes on the attack again but doesn’t get all of it and Ben Stokes settles under the ball to take a routine catch.

08:38 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 45/1 (7.0 overs)

Babar 18, Haris 8

A ploy we’ve seen pretty regularly from England as Ben Stokes returns to bowl the first over after the powerplay. Gives Buttler a bit of wiggle room later on.

Haris clubs one down the ground but it plugs in the surface and Jordan goes haring after it to save the boundary.

08:35 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 39/1 (6.0 overs)

Babar 16, Haris 4

That’s a freebie. Woakes continues into a third over and again strays leg-side, Babar helping it round the corner and away to the fence.

Babar isn’t looking in great rhythm though, mistiming the next up in the air but safely over the head of Jordan.

Edged! Haris this time but it doesn’t quite carry to Phil Salt.

Ugh, that’s frustrating for England. Woakes coughs up another wide with what should have been the final ball of the powerplay and Haris punishes him by lifting the extra fine for four.

08:29 , Malik Ouzia

Babar 11, Haris 0

PAK 29/1 (5.0 overs)

Mohammad Haris is the new man in, the 21-year-old who has had an impressive tournament so far. He’s straight on the attack but gets no bat on it as he comes charging down the track.

A brilliant over from Curran, just one run from it and the big wicket of Rizwan.

WICKET! Rizwan b Curran 15

08:26 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 29/1 (4.2 overs)

Rizwan with one of the more needless dives - his entire body is past the line by the time the ball arrives - and he’s hurt himself in the process. Looks like his helmet jarred as he hit the deck and it’s hurt him just below the eye.

And now he’s a goner!

Did that just unsettle him a touch? Either way, he drives at one outside off from Curran and chops onto his own stumps. Big breakthrough.

08:21 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 28/0 (4.0 overs)

Babar 10, Rizwan 15

Six!

First one of the final. Rizwan sweeps the first ball of Woakes second over high over the square-leg boundary. It’s a long way out there but he just about clears the rope.

08:16 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 16/0 (3.0 overs)

Babar 6, Rizwan 7

A change straight away in the bowling as Sam Curran is thrown the ball.

After that close-shave in the first over, these two are running well early on. With these huge boundaries, the legs are going to get through some miles tonight.

Terrific start from Curran.

08:13 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 12/0 (2.0 overs)

Babar 5, Rizwan 4

Chris Woakes from the other end and it’s a nervy start from him, too, as he chucks one down the leg side. Buttler does well to hold onto it as it swings back after passing the stumps.

Not especially convincing from Babar, who tries to whip Woakes through midwicket but chips up in the air. No fielder there, though.

Decent over from Woakes, just four from it.

08:06 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 8/0 (1.0 overs)

Babar 3, Rizwan 3

Run-out chance!

Rizwan creams straight to Chris Jordan at mid-off and sets off. Direct-hit and he’s a goner but Jordan misses. He’s such a good fielder and will be frustrated with that.

Nervy starts with both bat and ball.

08:03 , Malik Ouzia

PAK 2/0 (0.1 overs)

Babar 0, Rizwan 0

It is Ben Stokes and there’s a bit of swing on show, Rizwan plays a straight bat… and it’s a no-ball!

Stokes oversteps and the first ball of the final is a no-ball.

Free-hit… that’s down the leg-side, wide, he’ll have to bowl that again.

Bit of bounce, into the ribs. No run. Eventful start.

07:58 , Malik Ouzia

Anthems done, it’s showtime. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the form opening pair in world cricket over the last few years, against the new ball and England’s seamers.

Will it be Ben Stokes to open up again, or will Jos Buttler mix things up?

07:55 , Malik Ouzia

God Save The King up first. Tymal Mills, not in the side today, is absolutely beaming.

07:51 , Malik Ouzia

Here we go then. The teams are just about to make their way out for the national anthems. Still it remains dry...

07:44 , Malik Ouzia

It is absolutely rocking at the MCG. Former England captain Eoin Morgan is on the television coverage and is having to shout to make himself heard.

Here’s Jos Buttler speaking at the toss...

07:38 , Malik Ouzia

“There is a great energy around the stadium and we are looking forward to a great game.

“I think both teams come into this in red hot form and we look forward to a tough challenge. I think it looks a good wicket. Hopefully it stays that way. There is a bit of weather around which is why we chose to bowl first.

“We start fresh today. We bring confidence from the other day but it counts for nothing today.”

Pakistan also unchanged...

07:29 , Malik Ouzia

England XI: Hales, Buttler (c, wk), Salt, Stokes, Brook, Livingstone, Moeen, Curran, Woakes, Jordan, Rashid

Pakistan XI: Babar (c), Rizwan (wk), Haris, Masood, Ahmed, Shadab, Nawaz, Wasim, Afridi, Rauf, Naseem

England unchanged

07:24 , Malik Ouzia

No Mark Wood or Dawid Malan for England, so Chris Jordan and Phil Salt keep their places in the same team that faced India in the semi-final.

England win the toss!

07:24 , Malik Ouzia

Unsurprisingly, Jos Buttler decides to have a bowl. Team news to follow...

07:17 , Malik Ouzia

England fans were in a hefty minority in Adelaide for their semi-final against India and it looks likely to be the case in Melbourne again today - where, with 13 minutes until the toss, it is miraculously still dry.

Here’s Pakistan arriving a little earlier...

07:06 , Malik Ouzia

An hour to go...

06:58 , Malik Ouzia

Still no rain in Melbourne...

The toss will be very interesting. England had had more success batting first of late but historically have preferred chasing and did so brilliantly in the semi-final.

The weather might make that all irrelevant anyways - batting second, and therefore knowing the lay of the land, could be a significant advantage should rain shorten the game.

Rain, rain, go away

06:46 , Malik Ouzia

Pakistan chasing 1992 repeat

06:39 , Malik Ouzia

There are eerie parallels between the Pakistan side that memorably won the 1992 50-over World Cup and the campaign they have had here: early setbacks, three wins in a row to squeak into the knockout rounds and beating New Zealand in the semi-final to set up an MCG showdown against England.

Pakistan will have their fingers crossed history repeats itself as they defeated Graham Gooch’s England 30 years ago. Ramiz Raja, the Pakistan Cricket Board chair, opened the batting on that day and regaled the contemporary side about that famous 22-run win earlier this week in an effort to inspire them.

England have arrived...

06:26 , Malik Ouzia

England team news

06:21 , Malik Ouzia

A couple of issues remain for England who were of course without Mark Wood and Dawid Malan against India, the former complaining of stiffness and the latter having tweaked a groin during England’s final group game against Sri Lanka.

Both trained yesterday but were still rated as unlikely to play, though Jos Buttler did indicate that late calls would be made on both.

“They’re both improving,” Buttler said. “It’s not too many days since they weren’t fit enough for the semi-final, but we’ll give them every chance possible.”

Prediction

06:16 , Malik Ouzia

The bookmakers have England as marginal favourites after their ten-wicket destruction of India in the semi-final and they just about have the recent edge between the sides after that 4-3 series victory on the eve of the tournament.

Pakistan, though, are blessed with probably the best bowling attack in world cricket so it feels like a real toss up.

We’ll plump for England to get it done - just.

How to watch for FREE on UK TV

06:14 , Malik Ouzia

TV channel: Sky have agreed that Sunday’s final can be shown live free-to-air on Channel 4, with coverage beginning at 8am GMT.

The game is also still being shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket, with the show beginning at the earlier time of 7am.

Live stream: The match can be streamed online for free via the Channel 4 website and All 4, while Sky Sports subscribers can also catch it via the Sky Go app.

Atmosphere building...

06:10 , Malik Ouzia

We are scheduled to get underway at 8am UK time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and while that hasn’t looked likely for much of the past few days according to the weather forecast, so far things are dry.

Still 80-odd minutes until the toss for that to remain the case but fingers crossed...

Good morning!

06:06 , Malik Ouzia

Hello and welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the T20 World Cup final between Pakistan and England in Melbourne.

We’re set to get underway at 8am GMT (7pm local time), though there remains a significant threat of rain and thunderstorms.

Stick with us as England try to make history.