Ben Stokes scripted England’s T20 World Cup 2022 title win with an unbeaten half-century in the final against Pakistan at MCG on Sunday (November 13).
Chasing 138 to win, the Three Lions were struggling at 45/3 after 5.3 overs. However, Stokes stitched a 48-run partnership with Moeen Ali (19) to change the complexion of the game.
The all-rounder eventually remained unbeaten on 52* off 49 balls, taking England over the finishing line with five wickets in hand and an over to spare.
This match-winning knock was also about the redemption of Stokes, who was centre of attention in the 2016 World Cup after being hit for four sixes in the final over of the tournament at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Before this innings, Stokes came up with a stunning redemption story at the 2019 World Cup, helping England win their maiden ODI World Cup title in men's cricket with his all-rounder exploits.
After his latest heroics, England captain Jos Buttler said Stokes should have delayed his documentary and added the T20 World Cup 2022 triumph to it.
"It's an amazing story really, isn't it? I think shame he did his documentary a year early. He could have added that in. Yeah, he's been on an amazing journey.
"I think all these big moments, like I'll always remember his words to Jofra about how things don't define you, and I think he's obviously never let that 2016 final sort of push him back, and you think of the things he's gone on to achieve in his career since then is just amazing," Buttler said after England clinched the T20 World Cup title.
In the recent past, Stokes's place in the England T20I team came under the scanner but Buttler constantly backed him and the captain is not surprised that the all-round produced a match-winning performance in the final.
"Yeah, no surprise. He's a true match winner, and he's been there in those scenarios time and time again. He just has a lot of know-how for how to do that.
"I think it certainly wasn't his most fluent innings or probably didn't time the ball as well as he can, but you knew he was never going to go down without a fight and stand up and be there at the end.
"Yeah, we were immensely lucky to have him, and he's one of the great players of English cricket," Buttler added.
(India Today inputs)
