In a resounding conclusion to their World Cup journey, the reigning champions, England, secured a commanding 93-run victory over Pakistan at the Eden Gardens. This triumph, however, couldn’t salvage England’s overall campaign, marred by six defeats in seven matches, prompting calls for a reevaluation of their one-day squad.
Opting to bat first, England amassed a formidable 337/9, with standout performances from Jonny Bairstow (59), Joe Root (60), and Ben Stokes (84). The trio’s display left fans pondering why such efforts were not more consistent throughout the tournament.
Facing the challenging target, Pakistan, already with five losses in nine matches, found themselves in a perplexing situation, needing a miraculous chase in just 6.4 overs to secure a spot in the semifinals ahead of New Zealand.
In his farewell match for England, player-of-the-match David Willey (3/56) made significant contributions, dismissing the Pakistan openers early on. Despite Babar Azam (38) and Mohammad Rizwan (36) showing promise, Pakistan fell short, eventually bowing out of the tournament after being all out for 244 in the 44th over.
Reflecting on the disappointing campaign, Babar Azam expressed a commitment to leading the team’s rebuild, saying, “We’ll take positives from this and discuss mistakes. I’m keen to lead the rebuild.”
The defeat solidified New Zealand’s place in the semifinals alongside India, South Africa, and Australia. Meanwhile, England secured a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The upcoming semifinals will see India facing New Zealand on Wednesday, while South Africa clashes with Australia on Thursday.
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