Key Takeaways
- Arafat Minhas' all-round performance helped Pakistan defeat England by 87 runs.
- Minhas scored a crucial half-century and took six wickets for 40 runs.
- England's chase was derailed by a series of wickets, leading to a decisive Pakistan victory.
Pakistan secured an 87-run victory over England in a One-day International tri-series match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with all-round performances from key players, particularly Arafat Minhas.
Minhas, a left-arm spinner, was instrumental in Pakistan's success, scoring a crucial half-century and claiming six wickets for 40 runs in 8.4 overs.
England began the chase confidently, with Tom Banton and Ben Duckett racing to 91 without loss in 14.3 overs. Duckett made 45 off 46 balls, while Banton scored 57 from 53 deliveries, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
However, the momentum shifted when Haris Rauf broke the opening stand, removing Duckett with a mistimed pull, and Fakhar Zaman took the catch at deep fine leg.
Arafat then changed the complexion of the chase, bowling England captain Harry Brook for five with a delivery that gripped and straightened, leaving the visitors at 128-3.
Pakistan's pacer Haris Rauf subsequently ended Joe Root’s resistance, bowling him for 33 off 35 balls with a skidding delivery that kept low and struck the off stump.
Sam Curran and Jordan Cox attempted to keep England in contention, but the visitors' resistance steadily faded. Curran made 27 before top-edging a pull off Haris to substitute fielder Ghazi Ghori at deep backward square leg.
Cox, who scored 18, was trapped leg-before by Arafat’s quicker delivery and lost his review.
Arafat continued his dismantling of the lower order, dismissing Jamie Overton for one when Hasan Nawaz took a catch at long-on after the batter charged down the pitch.
Will Jacks briefly threatened a counterattack, striking Haris for six, but fell for 19 when he miscued Arafat to Shaheen at short midwicket.
Arafat trapped Adil Rashid leg-before for a first-ball duck in the 39th over, completing his six-wicket haul.
The final run-out of Gus Atkinson then sealed Pakistan's commanding win, with Arafat's flat, direct throw crashing into the stumps, marking the end of England's hopes.
England captain Harry Brook acknowledged that his side had made a promising start but failed to capitalise after losing the opening partnership, with wickets falling in clusters.
Banton and Ducky set the tone beautifully, but we lost the wickets in clumps and could not put on a partnership and ended up on the wrong side.
Harry Brook, England captain
