WCL 2025, Match 1: England Champions vs Pakistan Champions full match highlights
Pakistan Champions edged past England Champions by 5 runs in a thrilling WCL 2025 opener at Edgbaston.
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The opening match of the 2025 World Champions League (WCL) between the Pakistan Champions and the England Champions was held in Edgbaston, Birmingham. England won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to establish early wickets. However, Pakistan Champions demonstrated an all-around performance, especially with the ball in the death overs of the innings. While the England top order put up strong resistance, Pakistan managed to keep their composure towards the end to pull off victory by a narrow margin of 5 runs. The match went down to the last over, giving a dramatic opening to the WCL 2025 tournament.
Pakistan Champions Innings
Pakistan Champions set a competitive total of 160/9 in their 20 overs. Captain Mohammad Hafeez played an excellent knock of 54 off 34 balls and provided stability for the innings. Aamer Yamin provided a late flourish with a quickfire 27 runs off 13 deliveries. Sohail Tanvir also contributed with a useful 17 off 11 balls to boost the score. However, England's bowlers continued to pick wickets at intervals, with Liam Plunkett (2/28) and Chris Tremlett (2/36) picking up crucial wickets, while Ryan Sidebottom got 1/18 in 3 overs.
England Champions Innings
In pursuit of 161 for victory, the England Champions got off to a steady start but couldn't maintain the momentum when it mattered. Phil Mustard anchored the innings with 58 off 51 balls, while Ian Bell added impetus with a fluent 51 off 35 balls. However, a lack of finishing power in the final overs proved costly for England. Pakistan's bowlers tightened the screws at the death overs. Rumman Raees (1/14), Aamer Yamin (1/27), and Sohail Tanvir (1/41) held their nerve to seal a narrow 5-run win for Pakistan.
England Champions vs Pakistan Champions: Match Scorecard
Pakistan Champions – 160/9 (20 Overs)
| Batting | Runs (Balls) | Bowling | Wickets/Runs (Overs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Hafeez (c) | 54 (34) | Liam Plunkett | 2/28 (4) |
| Aamer Yamin | 27 (13) | Chris Tremlett | 2/36 (4) |
| Sohail Tanvir | 17 (11) | Ryan Sidebottom | 1/18 (3) |
England Champions—155/3 (20 Overs)
| Batting | Runs (Balls) | Bowling | Wickets/Runs (Overs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Mustard (wk) | 58 (51) | Rumman Raees | 1/14 (4) |
| Ian Bell | 51 (35) | Aamer Yamin | 1/27 (4) |
| Eoin Morgan (c) | 16 (12) | Sohail Tanvir | 1/41 (4) |
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Gopi Marisetty
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