After Ben Stokes’ match-winning half-century in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup against Pakistan on Sunday, former England captain Michael Vaughan wants the all-rounder to roll back his ODI retirement to help his side reach the 50-over World Cup to defend next year with his all-round skills. Top performances from Sam Curran and Ben Stokes took England to their second ICC T20 World Cup title after 2010, when they defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a gripping, low-scoring final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.
“Can you play in the 50 over World Cup next year please @benstokes38!! Ask for a nation,” Vaughan tweeted.
Can you play 50 over World Cup next year please? @benstokes38 !! Asking for a nation
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) Nov 14, 2022
The all-rounder had a solid ICC T20 WC, scoring 110 runs in six games at an average of 36.66. He also took six wickets for his side at an economy rate of 6.79.
Stokes withdrew from the 50-over format after playing the first ODI of the England series against South Africa on July 19. He could only score five runs in his last game.
In 105 ODIs, Stokes scored 2,924 runs at an average of 38.98. Three centuries and 21 half centuries came out of the all-rounder’s willow in 90 innings, with the best score of 102*.
As a bowler, he took 74 wickets with an average of 42.39 and an economy rate of 6.05. His best bowling figures in the 50-over format are 5/61.
Unsurprisingly, Vaughan wants Stokes to reverse his ODI retirement decision, given his ability to help his side win big games. Notably, he had played an 84* match-winning knockout in the final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup against New Zealand, winning his match based on the boundary count after the match was tied and the resulting Super Over produced the same result.
In August 2019, he played a memorable 135* knockout against Australia in the third Test of the Ashes series. Reduced to 286/9, he formed a match-winning 76-run tie with tailender Jack Leach, contributing just one run into the tie.
When they came to the final of the World Cup T20 against Pakistan, asked by England to bat first, Pakistan closed their innings at 137/8. Shan Masood (38) and skipper Babar Azam (32) scored the bulk of Pakistan’s undersized total.
Sam Curran (3/12) was the lead bowler for England, while leg pinner Adil Rashid (2/22) and pacer Chris Jordan (2/27) also took crucial wickets to dent Pakistan’s progress. Ben Stokes, who scored a match-winning, unbeaten 52, also claimed a wicket.
Chasing 138, England were reduced to 45/3 in 5.3 overs. But a 48-point tie between Ben Stokes (52* out of 49 balls with five fours and one six) and Moeen Ali (19 out of 13 balls) put the game in England’s favor and they won their second world title.
Haris Rauf (2/23) was the bowlers’ pick for Pakistan, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Md. Wasim Jr and Shadab Khan pick one wicket each.
While Stokes won England with a dizzying knock, it was Curran who won the ‘Man of the Match’ for his dream spell in the final.
Short score: Pakistan: 137/8 (Shan Masood 38, Babar Azam 32; Sam Curran 3-12) vs England: 138/5 (Ben Stokes 52*, Jos Buttler 26, Haris Rauf 2/23).
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