ENG-L vs PAK-L

That is all that we have for you from this contest. We'll have more of the same tomorrow as the India Champions take on the Australia Champions in the evening. Join us right here on Sportskeeda for our coverage of the same. For now, though, this is Rajarshi Das, signing off on behalf of Darpan Tikiya. Good night!

Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan Champions captain): Everyone's in form and performing, everyone getting the opportunity to perform is doing so. Good for the team, and fun to watch. Once you play cricket after a while, you're starved. It's fun. Having played against these guys before, we are enjoying a lot. The pain in the body, though, is starting to be felt. Whether you leave cricket or not, the grit is always there. You feel like ensuring the people watching the cricket get to enjoy as much as you do, entertain the fans. When the people cheer for you, you want to perform. Whatever the case, cricket is the most fun when you play the sport. 

Kevin Pietersen (England Champions captain): We had good patches, started okay, the three consecutive sixes took the momentum away from us. We came back with a wicket, and then it seemed every time a Pakistani batter wanted to hit a six they did. Everytime we tried we were caught on the boundary. Was a mismatch, we were outplayed by them. The guys did well, really well. We were good for periods and not so good at times. The body at our age just didn't want to deliver that skill at that particular point of time. Really enjoying it though, the atmosphere is very good. We'll see, I'm due. You always know when that knock is around the corner.

Shoaib Malik [51(33) & 1/18; Player of the Match]: Finally, feeling a bit better. When we got here, we practiced for a couple of days. But it wasn't enough. But now I have started feeling the ball. When you are 40, you need extra bit of practice. We are playing together after a long time. We are having fun but at the same time trying to win. The shoulder is working fine. Whenever your captain needs you, you need to be there. 

Match summary:

Pakistan Champions win by 79 runs

Sohaib Maqsood 64 (44) | Saeed Ajmal 3/12 (3)
Phil Mustard 30 (17) | Stuart Meaker 2/25 (3)

A rather ordinary batting effort from the England Champions, this. Some of their bigger names failed to deliver for them on a day when the England Champions needed a win to strengthen their chances of a top four finish. They were at a similar position as Pakistan's at the end of the powerplay, but they simply lacked the big haul from their middle order. 

Phil Mustard posed as the biggest threat earlier - he was striking the ball well early on, but the England Champions keeper fell to a splendid catch from Yasir Arafat around the 8-over mark. The England Champions lost two of their bigger names in Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell earlier - both began in promising fashion, but had their innings cut short by some tidy pieces of fielding from Taufeeq Umar and Yasir Arafat respectively.

The England Champions' middle-order tried their best to put up a resistance, but it was not to be. Kevin O'Brien was cleaned up by Shoaib Malik having played all around a straight one just as he was beginning to strike the ball cleanly. The England Champions lost wickets in regular intervals after Mustard's departure, and the Pakistan Champions maintain their place at the top of the table with four wins on the trot. Presentations coming up in a bit...

16.6 Sohail Khan to Stuart Meaker, BOWLED! The stumps are shattered and so are the hopes and aspirations of England Champions. Meaker steps out and tries to whack the ball straight down the ground. He makes contact with nothing but air. The ball goes on to disturb the furniture. 

Stuart Meaker b Sohail Khan 3 (3b, 0x4, 0x6)

16.5 Sohail Khan to Chris Schofield, angled across on a fuller length. Schofield drives it towards sweeper cover off the front foot. One run. 

16.4 Sohail Khan to Stuart Meaker, heaves it straight to Wahab Riaz at midwicket inside the circle and sets off. Riaz has a shy at the stumps but misses. He clutches his shoulder in pain after the throw.

16.2 Sohail Khan to Chris Schofield, MUFFLED APPEAL FOR LBW! It was probably pitching outside the leg stump. They run a leg bye as the ball trickles away towards point. 

16.1 Sohail Khan to Chris Schofield, length ball that squares the batter up. But Schofield is able to defend it firmly with a straight bat, in the end. 

Sidebottom wasn't the quickest runner between the wickets during his England playing days - he might have struggled to complete this second run even back then. No chance for him now - the England Champions are down to their last pair.

15.5 Yasir Arafat to Chris Schofield, driven to extra cover, where Misbah goes down to field the ball and ensure that there are no runs for the taking.