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BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan Champions beat England Champions by five runs in the opening match of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, here on Friday at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
Chasing a 161-run target, England Champions fell short despite Ian Bell’s classy half-century.
England Champions started strong in pursuit of the target as they scored 32-0 in the first five overs. However, Pakistan Champions fought back with key wicket of experienced Alastair Cook.
Following the wicket, Phil Mustard forged a brief stand with James Vince, bringing the score to 55 until the ninth over.
Aamer Yamin provided Pakistan Champions with a much-needed breakthrough, clearing up James Vince (7), reducing the home side to 55-2.
With two wickets down in the first half of the innings, the experience of Ian Bell and Phil Mustard helped lift England Champions out of trouble as the duo scored quickly, bringing the score to 94-2 in the 14th over.
Phil Mustard reached his half century in the process while Bell kept rotating the strike, ensuring that the required runs did not go up.
The stand was eventually broken in the 16th over with Sohail Tanvir removing trapped Mustard in front for a well-made 58 with England Champions requiring 52 runs from 24 balls.
However, Ian Bell stood in Pakistan Champions’ way, pairing up with Eoin Morgan to bring down the equation to 30 required from two overs.
With 16 required in the final over, Sohail Khan bowled brilliantly and gave up only 10 runs despite two set and experienced batters at the crease.
Earlier, Mohammad Hafeez’s gusty half century and Aamer Yamin’s cameo took Pakistan Champions to 160-9.
Put into bat first, Pakistan Champions posted 160-9 in their allocated 20 overs, thanks to Mohammad Hafeez’s anchoring 54 off 34 balls.
The right-handed batter rolled back the clock with his knock, showcasing elegant shots all around the ground.
Pakistan Champions did not have the best of a start as they lost their openers inside the powerplay. Sharjeel Khan was caught in the fourth over, scoring 12 off 15 balls with the help of a six, while Ryan Sidebottom dismissed Kamran Akmal (8) in the next over.
England Champions further piled misery on Pakistan Champions as they removed experienced Umar Amin and Shoaib Malik in quick succession.
As a result, Pakistan Champions were reduced to 49-4 in nine overs.
Following the shambolic display from the top-order, skipper Mohammad Hafeez partnered with Asif Ali in a bid to steady the Green Shirts’ innings. Both batters batted cautiously until the 13th over, which ended with Asif Ali’s (15) dismissal.
Pakistan were reduced to 88-6 in 14 overs; however, Hafeez and Yamin forged a brief partnership, bringing the score to 121 before the former’s dismissal.
With 121-7 in 17 overs, the total of more than 150 was looking extremely difficult until Aamer Yamin’s quick-fire cameo lifted them out of the trouble.
The right-handed batter remained unbeaten with 27* off 13 balls with the aid of two sixes in the penultimate over.
For the England Champions, Liam Plunkett and Chris Tremlett picked up two wickets each.
Earlier, England Champions won the toss and opted to bowl first against Pakistan Champions.
Pakistan Champions Playing XI
Mohammad Hafeez (c), Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Sharjeel Khan, Kamran Akmal (WK), Asif Ali, Aamer Yamin, Wahab Riaz, Rumman Raees, Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan,
England Champions Playing XI
Eoin Morgan (c), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, James Vince, Liam Plunkett, Chris Tremlett, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Tim Ambrose, Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Meaker, Phil Mustard (WK)
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