Pakistan vs England LIVE: Latest update from the T20 Cricket World Cup final

CloseButtler on England’s “brilliant performance” in win over IndiaEngland are one step away from World Cup glory as they take on Pakistan in the T20 final at the MCG this morning. Jos Buttler’s men have hit form at exactly the right time by winning their final two matches in the Super 12s to secure qualification before demolishing India in the semi-finals.That match saw Chris Jordan and Phil Salt come into the team in place of the injured Dawid Malan and Mark Wood but the changes in personnel didn’t affect England. Adil Rashid (4-0-20-1) and Jordan (4-0-43-3) impressed with the ball to restrict Rohit Sharma’s side to 168-6 before Buttler (80*) and Alex Hales (86*) stormed to the total to give England a 10-wicket win.If that seems impressive it is nothing compared to Pakistan’s campaign. Babar Azam’s side lost their opening two matches to India and Zimbabwe – both on the final ball of the game – before three consecutive wins saw them sneak through after the Netherlands defeated South Africa. In the semi-final they faced New Zealand and knocked off 153 runs with five balls and seven wickets remaining.This final is a repeat of the 1992 World Cup which saw Pakistan snatch the trophy from England’s grasp under then captain Imran Khan. Will Babar’s side repeat that feat or can England lift the T20 cup for the second time?Follow all the action from the T20 World Cup final:Start of play is 8am GMTEngland take on Pakistan in repeat of 1992 World Cup finalMark Wood and Dawid Malan unlikely to be fit enough to playMatch being shown live on Sky Sport and Channel 41668321420Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit top form in a timely fashion to propel Pakistan into the T20 World Cup final as they overcame New Zealand by seven wickets at Sydney.The opening pair are widely viewed as two of the best white-ball batters in the world and while they have both had quiet tournaments so far, they flourished when it mattered most against the Black Caps.A bit of luck was involved as Babar was dropped off his first ball before going on to register 53 off 42 deliveries, taking the sting out of a chase of 153 alongside Rizwan in a 105-run first-wicket stand.Pakistan will now play England or India in Sunday’s final Michael Jones13 November 2022 06:371668321000This is it. The T20 World Cup final. A game which will determine who lifts the trophy and goes down in cricketing history and who goes home deflated and defeated. Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the showpiece fixture of the T20 World Cup where England will take on Pakistan at the MCG. Both teams have gone through difficult campaigns leading to this stage. Pakistan needed to win their final three Super 12 matches to have any hopes of qualifying for the final four and even then they required the help of the Netherlands – who defeated South Africa – to get them through. Babar Azam’s side improved massively in the semi-final and comfortably knocked out New Zealand have chased down a score of 153 with five balls remaining. England were in a similar predicament. A rain-affected loss to Ireland put them on the back foot in the Super 12 groups and a washout against Australia meant the needed to defeat New Zealand and Sri Lanka to qualify. Thankfully Jos Buttler’s men rose to the challenge and snuck into the final four where they faced India. What should have been a closely contested game turned into a one-sided affair as England battered India. They won by 10-wickets with exactly four overs to spare and in T20 cricket that is a spanking. But who will win today? The fate of matches can flip in an over in T20 cricket and these two sides are well matched. England will be the favourites but on their day Pakistan are capable of beating anyone in the world. This one should be a corker.Michael Jones13 November 2022 06:30