By Asif Naveed
RAWALPINDI (MNN); Pakistan produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat England by 87 runs in the ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with young left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas delivering a match-winning display with both bat and ball.
Arafat first scored a crucial 59 runs to help Pakistan recover from a precarious position and post 302-9. He then ripped through England’s batting line-up, taking six wickets for just 40 runs in 8.4 overs as the visitors were bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs while chasing a target of 303.
His outstanding performance ended with a direct-hit run-out of Gus Atkinson, completing a memorable evening for the all-rounder.
Arafat dismantles England after a strong opening stand
England appeared well placed in their chase as Tom Banton and Ben Duckett raced to 91 without loss in 14.3 overs. Duckett scored 45 off 46 balls, including eight fours, while Banton made 57 from 53 deliveries, striking five fours and two sixes.
Haris Rauf broke the opening partnership when Duckett mistimed a pull shot and Fakhar Zaman took the catch at deep fine leg. Arafat then shifted the momentum decisively in Pakistan’s favour, dismissing Banton with his third delivery as the batter picked out Shaheen Shah Afridi at midwicket.
The left-arm spinner struck again by bowling England captain Harry Brook for five, leaving the visitors struggling at 128-3. Naseem Shah subsequently dismissed Joe Root for 33 off 35 balls with a low, skidding delivery that struck the off stump.
Sam Curran and Jordan Cox attempted to revive England’s chase, but their resistance proved short-lived. Curran scored 27 before being caught by substitute fielder Ghazi Ghori off Haris Rauf, while Cox departed for 18 after being trapped leg-before by Arafat.
Arafat continued his assault on the lower order, dismissing Jamie Overton for one, before removing Will Jacks for 19 after the batter miscued a shot to Shaheen at short midwicket.
He then trapped Adil Rashid leg-before for a first-ball duck in the 39th over to complete his six-wicket haul. The run-out of Atkinson sealed Pakistan’s emphatic victory.
Brook admits England failed to build partnerships
England captain Harry Brook acknowledged that his team had made an encouraging start but failed to maintain momentum after losing the opening partnership.
“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,” Brook said.
He also admitted that England had been overly cautious against Pakistan’s spinners and missed opportunities to put the hosts under pressure. Brook said his team would review its shortcomings and aim to bounce back in the next match.
Hasan and Arafat rescue Pakistan after top-order collapse
Pakistan’s victory was built on a fighting recovery after England, having elected to field, reduced the hosts to 133-5.
Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas added 78 runs off 74 balls for the sixth wicket, turning the innings around and laying the foundation for a competitive total.
Hasan top-scored with 79 off 74 deliveries, including five fours and four sixes, while Arafat contributed 59 from 58 balls, hitting nine boundaries.
Faheem Ashraf provided a late acceleration with 39 off 26 balls, while captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added a quickfire 10 from just five deliveries to take Pakistan beyond the 300-run mark.
Pakistan had suffered an early setback when Gus Atkinson dismissed Fakhar Zaman for a first-ball duck, caught by Joe Root at short midwicket. Saim Ayub attempted a counterattack but fell for eight, leaving Pakistan at 31-2 in the sixth over.
Babar Azam scored 34 off 52 balls before being bowled by Will Jacks, while Salman Ali Agha departed for 16 after being caught off Adil Rashid. At 81-4, Pakistan needed a substantial partnership to rebuild the innings.
Saad Baig and Hasan added 52 runs for the fifth wicket before Atkinson dismissed Saad for 35 off 54 balls. Hasan and Arafat then took charge, combining disciplined batting with aggressive strokeplay to revive Pakistan’s innings.
Hasan’s knock ended at 211-6 in the 40th over when Jamie Overton beat him with a yorker. Arafat continued the recovery with Faheem Ashraf, whose attacking shots included consecutive boundaries against Rashid and a six off Root.
Faheem was caught by Will Jacks for 39 in the 49th over, while Arafat fell for 59 after mistiming a shot off Sonny Baker. Shaheen’s late boundaries helped Pakistan finish at 302-9.
Arafat credits slower pitch for bowling success
Speaking after the match, Arafat said a slower surface had offered more assistance to spinners than in the previous game. He also highlighted the importance of varying deliveries to deceive batters.
“I have kept my plans simple. There was not much help for the spinners in the first match. The pitch was on the slower side today, which helped me,” he said.
“Variations are very important for a spinner as they help in deceiving the batters. I have worked on my variations.”
Arafat also credited his partnership with Hasan for rebuilding Pakistan’s innings, saying they had agreed to bat deep after he came to the crease.
He said he took responsibility after Hasan’s dismissal and tried to bat until the end to help Pakistan cross 300.
Shaheen praises emerging all-rounder
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi praised Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas and Faheem Ashraf for rescuing the innings but stressed that the top order needed to deliver more consistently.
“It was really good how Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, and Faheem Ashraf batted, but we also need our top-order to fire,” he said.
Shaheen described Arafat as a promising all-rounder whose performance was encouraging for Pakistan as the team prepares for the World Cup.
“The form of Arafat and fast bowlers is good signs for us. Arafat is a very good talent and he is a proper allrounder, which bodes well for us. Hopefully, he will deliver for us in many more games in the future,” he said.
Although pleased with the team’s performance, Shaheen said Pakistan still needed to improve as it continued preparations for the global tournament.
