Arafat Minhas masterclass propels Pakistan to dominant win over England
By Nawaz Gohar ; On a historic day for Pakistan cricket, rising all-rounder Arafat Minhas delivered a breathtaking, career-defining performance to propel his side to a commanding 87-run victory over England in the second match of the ODI Tri-Series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
In a match that showcased both his composure with the bat and lethality with the ball, Minhas stroked a fluent 59 off 58 balls before dismantling England’s batting lineup with a staggering six-wicket haul (6 for 40). In doing so, the young prodigy became only the third Pakistani cricketer in history to score a half-century and claim a five-for in the same One Day International.
After England captain Harry Brook opted to field under the belief that evening dew would favor a run-chase, the decision paid immediate dividends. Pakistan endured a nightmare start when speedster Gus Atkinson struck with the very first delivery of the match, removing Fakhar Zaman for a golden duck. When Saim Ayub (8) fell to a sharp short ball from Sonny Baker, Pakistan were left reeling at 31 for 2.
Babar Azam looked determined during his stay, accumulating 34 off 37 balls, but was eventually outfoxed by an off-spinning beauty from Will Jacks that skidded through his defense to hit off stump.
With Pakistan stumbling at 81 for 4, the stage was set for a rescue mission. Middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz provided the spark, playing a brilliantly aggressive knock of 79 from 74 balls—hitting four colossal sixes—to shift the momentum back to the hosts. Supported by young Said Baig (35) and later Faheem Ashraf (39 off 27), Pakistan found their anchor in Minhas.
Displaying maturity beyond his years, Minhas brought up his maiden ODI half-century. Supported by lower-order cameos, including a boundary off the final ball by Haris Rauf, Pakistan surged to an imposing 302 for 9 in their 50 overs. Sonny Baker was the pick of the bowlers for England with 3 for 65.
Chasing 303 for victory, England launched a spirited counter-attack. Openers Tom Banton (57) and Ben Duckett (45) rattled Pakistan’s frontline pacers, laying a solid foundation with a vibrant 91-run opening partnership inside 15 overs.
However, the introduction of spin drastically altered the trajectory of the contest. Haris Rauf provided the initial breakthrough by dismissing Duckett, before Minhas took complete control of the match.
The left-arm spinner broke England’s middle-order back with a sensational display of drift and turn. He picked up Banton first, before sending skipper Harry Brook packing with a beauty that pitched on middle and clipped the off-bail.
As the required run rate mounted, England’s star batter Joe Root (33) fell to Naseem Shah, while Sam Curran became Rauf’s second victim. With the pressure mounting, Minhas returned to clean up the lower order—trapping Jordan Cox lbw, forcing Overton to hole out, and dismissing Will Jacks to complete his five-wicket haul. He immediately followed it up by trapping Adil Rashid lbw on the next ball.
Appropriately, the thrilling contest reached its climax with Minhas involved once again. A direct hit from the all-rounder caught Gus Atkinson short of his crease, rolling England out for 215 in 38.4 overs.
The victory marks Pakistan’s second consecutive win in the Tri-Series, following their opening 37-run win against Sri Lanka, firmly cementing their position at the top of the table.
With a star performance that featured a fifty, six wickets, and a match-ending run-out, Arafat Minhas has not only announced himself on the global stage but has also handed Pakistan a crucial momentum boost early in the tournament.
Match Summary
Pakistan: 302/9 in 50 overs (Hasan Nawaz 79, Arafat Minhas 59, Faheem Ashraf 39; Sonny Baker 3-65, Gus Atkinson 2-58)
England: 215 all out in 38.4 overs (Tom Banton 57, Ben Duckett 45; Arafat Minhas 6-40, Haris Rauf 2-38)
Result: Pakistan won by 87 runs
Player of the Match: Arafat Minhas (Pakistan)
