Pakistan Outclass England to Claim Second Win in ODI Tri-Series
Pakistan registered their second win in the ongoing ODI tri-series after defeating England by 87 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Arafat Minhas starred with both bat and ball, scoring a crucial half-century before claiming six wickets as England were bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs while chasing a target of 303.
Earlier, Pakistan suffered a disastrous start after Gus Atkinson dismissed Fakhar Zaman on the first ball of the innings.
Saim Ayub and Babar Azam attempted to rebuild with a 31-run partnership, but Sonny Baker removed Saim for eight off six balls.
Babar followed after scoring 34 off 52 deliveries, including four boundaries, as Will Jacks reduced Pakistan to 59-3 in 14.2 overs.
Salman Ali Agha, who had scored a century in the opening match, also failed to make a significant contribution, falling to Adil Rashid for 16 off 19 balls.
Hasan Nawaz and Saad Baig then steadied the innings with a 51-run partnership before Atkinson dismissed Saad for 35 off 54 deliveries, leaving Pakistan struggling at 133-5 in 27.3 overs.
Nawaz continued to fight back alongside Minhas, adding 78 runs for the sixth wicket and taking Pakistan past the 200-run mark.
He completed his second consecutive ODI half-century before Jamie Overton bowled him for 79 off 74 balls, an innings featuring five fours and four sixes.
Minhas then joined forces with Faheem Ashraf, and the pair added 72 runs to put Pakistan in a stronger position.
The left-handed batter completed his half-century before Baker dismissed him for 59 off 58 deliveries, including nine boundaries, leaving Pakistan at 283-7 after 48 overs.
Faheem also played a valuable knock of 39 off just 25 balls, including five fours and a six, before falling to Sam Curran.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck back-to-back boundaries as Pakistan reached 294-8 after 49 overs.
Baker dismissed Naseem Shah for one in the final over, but Pakistan finished at 302-9, with Shaheen unbeaten on 10 and Haris Rauf on four.
Baker was England’s leading wicket-taker with figures of 3-65 in nine overs, while Atkinson claimed two wickets. Jacks, Overton, Rashid, and Curran picked up one wicket each.
In response, England got off to a strong start as openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett put together a 91-run partnership.
Haris Rauf provided Pakistan with the first breakthrough in the 15th over, dismissing Duckett for 45 off 46 balls, including eight boundaries.
Banton continued his impressive batting and completed his third ODI half-century before Minhas dismissed him for 57 off 53 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes.
The dismissal left England at 120-2 in 18.3 overs, with Minhas striking again in the 21st over to remove captain Harry Brook for just five runs.
Joe Root and Sam Curran attempted to revive the chase, taking England past the 150-run mark before Naseem Shah bowled Root for 33 off 35 balls, reducing the visitors to 165-4 in 28.5 overs.
Rauf then removed Curran for 27 off 39 balls as Pakistan continued to build pressure on England’s middle order.
Minhas returned to dismiss Jordan Cox for 18 off 16 deliveries, leaving England at 197-6 in 34.5 overs, before removing Jamie Overton for just one run.
The all-rounder then dismissed Will Jacks for 19 and Adil Rashid for a first-ball duck on consecutive deliveries to complete his second five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
He also ran out Gus Atkinson following a mix-up between the batters to wrap up England’s innings and secure a comfortable victory for Pakistan.
Minhas finished with outstanding bowling figures of 6-40 in 8.4 overs, while Rauf claimed two wickets and Naseem picked up one.
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