Shadab Khan was dismissed on 4 as Adil Rashid bamboozled the all-rounder with a viciously spinning googly. Pakistan fell short by 93 in the 338-run chase at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata as England bowed out of the ICC World Cup 2023 with an important victory that secure their Champions Trophy 2025 qualification.
England had won the toss and batted first, which meant Pakistan would need to gun down the target in a maximum of six overs — an improbable equation — if they were to eclipse New Zealand on net run rate and advance to the semi-finals.
The defending champions may have finished on a high, but their campaign was a shambles, putting a sour note on an otherwise promising year wherein they turned around their fortunes in Test cricket with the ultra-aggressive Bazball approach.
England, led by captain Jos Buttler, suffered six defeats in their first seven matches of the ICC World Cup 2023 and failed to qualify for the semi-finals, finishing in seventh place in the points table.
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