ENG C vs PAK C WCL 2025 Highlights: Pakistan Champions beat England Champions by five runs

Sohail Khan manages to defend 16 from the final over. Pakistan Champions win this by 5 runs. What a game this was.

A not-so-good over from Wahab Riaz. He bowled two no-balls - one for overstepping and one for height - as he gave away 14 from it. Sohail Khan to bowl the final one.

Ian Bell is playing a gem of a knock here. He is on 40 from 26 balls and is keeping England in the hunt. They need 30 from 12 balls.

A big wicket here by Sohail Tanvir. He removes the well-set Mustard for 58 from 51 balls. England now in more trouble.

England have brought up their 100 in the 15th over. Mustard has got to his fifty, too. England now need 54 more from 30 balls.

England need a move on here. They are not going at the rate they should. Mustard is closing in on a 50, and England would hope for him to go strong. England need 76 from 42 balls.

Half of the innings are done and England find themselves at 63/2 after the first 10 overs. They have lost Alastair Cook and James Vince, with some good bowling by Pakistan. However, Phil Mustard is set out there on 37 from 30 balls. England need 98 from 60 balls and are playing catch-up.

James Vince has been cleaned up by Aamer. England lose second after crossing 50 in the ninth over. Pakistan would sense they have a big chance here.

Cook's scratchy innings end here. He has been bowled by Raees. A nipbacking full toss that the England veteran failed to read and got bowled. England 32/1 after 5.

Alastair Cook has not been able to find the tempo needed in this chase. He is missing several outswinging deliveries and is on six from 13 balls. England 28/0 after 4.

A fine start by England as they race away to 14 from 12. Three runs from the first over and 11 from the second with two fours.

The chase is on. Alastair Cook and Phil Mustard are out in the middle. Rumman Raees has new ball in his hand. Off we go.

And that's a strong finish by Pakistan Champions. Aamer Yamin has struck two sixes in the over, while Sohail Khan has slammed one. 22 runs from the over as Pakistan end on 160/9.

Six and a wicket. Sohail Tanvir had slammed a six on the third ball of Tremlett but has chipped the next one to mid-on. Pakistan are now 8 down for 137.

And just when they would have been hoping for a strong end, Pakistan have lost Hafeez. He has been caught and bowled off a short ball that got big on him as Plunkett takes an easy one. Pakistan 7 down.

A captain's knock by Pakistan Champions skipper Mohammad Hafeez. He gets there off 32 balls in the 16th over. Hafeez is holding things well for Pakistan and would like to take them to 150-160.

Pakistan lose their impact sub now. Not much impact Maqsood, as he has been caught out at just 2. However, Hafeez is still out there and he is their only hope now.

Sohaib Maqsood is the impact sub for Pakistan. He replaces Sharjeel as Pakistan now need something from their lower-order for the bowlers to play for.

Pakistan have now lost half of their side. Asif Ali also charged down and looked to go big, but gets an edge as the wicketkeeper grabs an easy one. 

Pakistan started decently with 20/0 from three overs. But they have been jolted by England now, with the speedsters striking well. They are now at 60/4 after 10 overs. 150 looks difficult at the moment. 

And here comes another wicket. Shoaib Malik has been caught behind. The batter charged down and looked to cut it, but got an edge to it as wicketkeeper Mustard takes it. Plunkett gets a wicket too. Pakistan are now 4 down. Asif Ali is now in.

Hafeez sold his partner Umar in the previous over and would have been run-out himself here. Hafeez cut this to backward point and wanted a two- Shoaib denied and had there been a better effort from the bowler Plunkett, the batter would have gone.

Pakistan lose their third wicket here. A big mix-up between Hafeez and Umar Amin, and the latter is run out on the non-striker's end. Shoaib Malik is now in.

England strike again. Sidebottom gets the other Pakistan opener Kamran, caught at mid-off. Kamran tried going over the mid-off fielder, but did not had the timing on it as he sliced it and Alastair Cook took a decent catch. 

Meaker gets the first breakthrough. He removes Sharjeel. A fuller one from the right-handed speedster, Sharjeel, looked for another flick six, got a leading edge, and this time, Bell takes the catch. Pakistan one down, Umar Amin is in.

Sharjeel gets the first six of the match. A fuller one from Sidebottom on the pads as Sharjeel flicked it over square for the first six of the match and also the first of the tournament. And on the next ball, there seemed to be an edge off to the wicketkeeper, but not given. A decent appeal from the bowler, but there is no DRS. So, not out it stands.

A tight start to the innings by Ryan Sidebottom. There was some seam movement when he pitched the ball a bit fuller. Four from the opening over. Stuart Meaker to bowl from the other end.

Kamran has to face the new ball. Sidebottom from over the wicket with his left-arm seam. No slip. Off we go

Pakistan openers - Kamran Akmal and Sharjeel Khan - are out in the middle to kick-start things for Pakistan. Ryan Sidebottom has the new ball in his hand. Off we go.

Here are Pakistan's impact subs:

Shahid Afridi, Imad Wasim, Sohaib Maqsood and Fawad Alam.

Who do you think would come for Pakistan when they bowl second?

"There is not all grass, there are threads on this, it is a true pitch. It is a true batting surface. Last year, these pitches were so good, the average score was 188. Sides chasing have won more matches here," Alan Wilkins in his pitch report

Here are England's impact subs:

Moeen Ali, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Ajmal Shahzad and Usman Afzaal.

Mohammad Hafeez (C), Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (WK), Sharjeel Khan, Wahab Riaz, Asif Ali, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Rumman Raees, Umar Amin.

James Vince, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan (C), Liam Plunkett, Chris Tremlett, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Phil Mustard (WK), Tim Ambrose, Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Meaker.

England Champions' skipper Eoin Morgan has won the toss, and he has decided that his team will field first.

Pakistan stars Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w), Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi(c), Abdul Razzaq, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal will be in action in the tournament.

Several retired England players will be part of this tournament, including captain Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara, among others.

The WCL 2025 is upon us. England Champions kick off their campaign against Pakistan Champions in the first match of the tournament as the legends of the game return to action. Stay tuned for all the updates on the match.