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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Benjamin Goddard

England and Pakistan could share T20 World Cup with rain threatening to scupper final

England and Pakistan could be forced to share the T20 World Cup if thunderstorms hit Sunday's final match in Melbourne.

The keenly awaited showcase is set to take place at 7pm local time (8am UK) at the MCG. However, the Met Office forecast for 8pm in Melbourne shows a 60 per cent chance of rain. Tournament rules for state that the final needs to last at least 10 overs per side for a result to be recorded.

If rain interrupts play then the match could be resumed on Monday when the complete 20-over match could take place, if no play in possible on Sunday.

The Met Office forecast in Melbourne on Monday is better with light rain showers predicted in the city with a 40 per cent chance of rain during the evening.

If a result isn't possible over the course of the two days, the trophy will be shared.

Four matches at this year's T20 World Cup have already been hit by the weather with three matches in Melbourne washed out completely and two decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

It's not the first time rain has scuppered the prospect of a major cricket final as the 2002 Champions Trophy was shared between India and Sri Lanka after rain washed out their match.

Rain has already hit Melbourne during the T20 World Cup and more is expected this weekend (PA)

Will England beat Pakistan if the T20 World Cup final goes ahead? Let us know in the comments section

England will be praying to the weather gods after hitting sparkling form in the 10-wicket victory over India in their semi-final match.

The unbeaten partnership of Jos Buttler (80) and Alex Hales (86) guided England to a target of 168/6 with four overs and 10 wickets spare.

"I’m immensely proud of the guys," said England skipper Buttler. "That was a brilliant performance, by far our best performance of the tournament. We’re an incredibly dangerous side and there’s huge confidence in the group. We haven’t at points played as well as we could have done in the tournament yet still found ourselves in the semi-final of a World Cup.

“To play like we did in such a high-pressure game is immensely satisfying."

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