Pakistan secured a commanding victory over England by 79 runs in the World Championship of Legends 2024, held at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. This win extends Pakistan’s unbeaten streak in the tournament, having previously defeated Australia, West Indies, and India.
Pakistan’s dominance began with a strong bowling performance that saw England struggle throughout their innings. They started by dismissing England’s captain, Kevin Pietersen, early on, who managed only 4 runs. Phil Mustard fought valiantly with a score of 34, but his dismissal marked a turning point as England’s batting lineup faltered. Ian Bell was run out for 11, and subsequent wickets fell at regular intervals. In the end, England could only muster a total of 117 all out. Saeed Ajmal led Pakistan’s bowling attack with three wickets, supported by Abdul Razzaq with two wickets, and one each from Shoaib Malik, Sohail Khan, and Aamer Yamin.
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Earlier, Pakistan set a formidable target of 196/4 after being put in to bat. Despite losing early wickets, a crucial 121-run partnership between Sohaib Maqsood (64 off 44 balls) and Shoaib Malik (51 off 33 balls) provided the backbone of Pakistan’s innings. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq contributed an unbeaten 23, and Abdul Razzaq finished with a quickfire 20 not out off just 9 balls. England’s Stuart Meaker was the most successful bowler for his team, picking up 2 wickets for 25 runs.
With this victory, Pakistan consolidates its position at the top of the points table with 8 points, ensuring a strong position for the semi-finals. Australia and India follow with 4 points each, while England holds the fourth spot with 2 points.
Pakistan’s performance in this match underscores their strength in both batting and bowling departments, making them a formidable contender as the tournament progresses towards the knockout stages.