Arafat Minhas Delivers All-Round Masterclass as Pakistan Crush England in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: Arafat Minhas produced a memorable all-round display as Pakistan registered an emphatic 87-run victory over England in the ODI tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

After contributing a crucial 59 runs with the bat, Minhas dismantled England’s batting line-up with a career-best six-wicket haul, helping Pakistan defend their total of 302-9 and record their second victory in the tournament.

England, set a challenging target of 303, were dismissed for 215 in 38.4 overs. Despite a promising opening stand, the visitors failed to maintain their momentum once Pakistan began taking regular wickets.

Tom Banton and Ben Duckett gave England an encouraging start, putting together 91 runs for the first wicket. Haris Rauf eventually ended the partnership in the 15th over, sending Duckett back for 45 off 46 balls, an innings that included eight fours.

Banton continued to lead England’s response and brought up his third ODI half-century. He scored 57 from 53 deliveries, striking five fours and two sixes, before becoming Minhas’s first victim in the 19th over. England were 120-2 after 18.3 overs.

Minhas strengthened Pakistan’s position further by dismissing captain Harry Brook for five in the following overs, leaving England with the task of rebuilding their chase.

Joe Root and Sam Curran tried to steady the innings, taking England beyond 150, but Naseem Shah broke their stand by bowling Root for 33 off 35 balls, including five fours.

Rauf then removed Curran, who made 27 from 39 deliveries, as England slipped further behind the required rate.

Minhas took control of the contest from there. He dismissed Jordan Cox for 18 before sending Jamie Overton back for just one, reducing England to 198-7.

The left-arm spinner then delivered two decisive blows in successive deliveries during the ninth over of his spell. Will Jacks departed for 19, followed by Adil Rashid, who was dismissed for a first-ball duck. The double strike completed Minhas’s second five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.

Pakistan’s victory was sealed when Minhas ran out Gus Atkinson following a mix-up, bringing England’s innings to an end at 215.

Minhas finished with outstanding figures of 6-40 in 8.4 overs. Rauf picked up two wickets, while Naseem contributed one.

Earlier, Pakistan’s innings began in the worst possible fashion when Atkinson dismissed Fakhar Zaman with the very first ball.

Saim Ayub and Babar Azam attempted to recover from the early setback, but Sonny Baker broke their 31-run partnership by removing Saim for eight off six deliveries.

Babar and Salman Ali Agha subsequently tried to rebuild the innings. However, Babar’s stay ended at 34 from 52 balls, with Will Jacks providing the breakthrough to leave Pakistan at 59-3 after 14.2 overs.

Salman, who had scored a century in Pakistan’s opening match, could not repeat that performance and was dismissed by Adil Rashid for 16 off 19 deliveries.

With Pakistan under pressure, Saad Baig joined Hasan Nawaz and helped the hosts regain some stability. Their 51-run partnership lifted the total beyond 100 before Atkinson struck again, dismissing Saad for 35 off 54 balls, including five fours.

Nawaz took responsibility for accelerating the innings, producing another impressive performance with the bat. The right-hander reached his second successive ODI half-century and kept Pakistan moving forward with aggressive strokeplay.

Minhas supported him effectively as the pair added 78 runs for the sixth wicket. Their partnership ended when Overton bowled Nawaz for 79 off 74 deliveries, an innings featuring five fours and four sixes.

Faheem Ashraf then joined Minhas and helped Pakistan build a strong finish. The two added 72 runs, pushing the home side beyond 250 as Faheem attacked England’s bowlers and Minhas continued to score freely.

Minhas completed a valuable half-century before Baker ended his innings for 59 from 58 balls, with nine fours. Pakistan had reached 283-7 after 48 overs, with Minhas’s contribution proving instrumental in setting up a competitive total.

Faheem carried on the late assault before Curran dismissed him for 39 off just 25 deliveries, including five fours and a six.

Shaheen Afridi added quick runs towards the end, striking two consecutive boundaries to take Pakistan to 294-8 after 49 overs.

Baker claimed his third wicket in the final over by dismissing Naseem Shah for one. He conceded eight runs as Pakistan closed their innings at 302-9, with Shaheen unbeaten on 10 and Rauf not out on four.

Baker led England’s bowling effort with three wickets for 65 runs in nine overs. Atkinson took two wickets, while Jacks, Overton, Rashid and Curran claimed one apiece.

Pakistan’s victory was built on a combined effort from the batting unit and a match-winning bowling performance from Minhas, whose contributions in both innings proved decisive in securing a convincing result for the hosts.