Arafat Minhas all-round masterclass crushes England by 87 runs in Rawalpindi
Pakistan 302-9 beat England 215 by 87 runs, Rawalpindi
Pakistan have won their first two matches in the one-day tri-series after a commanding 87-run victory over England in Rawalpindi. All-rounder Arafat Minhas was the star of the show, scoring a crucial 59 with the bat and then ripping through the England line-up with figures of 6-40 to deliver a dominant win in the opening game of the series.
Pakistan fight back to 302
Asked to bat, Pakistan were in early trouble after Fakhar Zaman flicked the first ball straight to short midwicket and Saim Ayub fell for 8 after top-edging Sonny Baker. Babar Azam made an exquisite start but was eventually castled by Will Jacks, while centurion Salman Agha from the first game top-edged a slog sweep to leave Pakistan 81-4.
Hasan Nawaz arrived and immediately made a statement, hammering his first ball for six before rebuilding with Saad Baig. Nawaz continued in positive fashion and reached fifty after smashing two sixes in three balls. Arafat Minhas then took on Sam Curran for three fours in an over as momentum shifted.
An excellent yorker from Jamie Overton ended Nawaz’s innings on 79 off 74, but Minhas found support from Faheem Ashraf. The pair launched a boundary-hitting spree at the death, with Minhas bringing up his maiden ODI fifty via a hat-trick of boundaries before falling. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf added late runs to take Pakistan to 302-9. Baker finished with 3-65.
BBC’s report noted sloppiness from England in the field, including diving wicketkeeper Jordan Cox putting down Arafat on 12 when Pakistan were 190-5 in the 37th over, one of three catches dropped.
England collapse from a strong start
England’s chase began slowly, managing just nine runs from the first three overs before Tom Banton and Ben Duckett accelerated. Banton punished Naseem Shah for a couple of sixes and a four in one over to bring up a fifty partnership and England raced to 80-0 after 12 overs, making 303 appear gettable.
The breakthrough came when Haris Rauf sent Duckett packing for 45. Arafat then removed the well-set Banton for 57 when he shovelled a long hop to mid-wicket. The all-rounder followed with a beautiful delivery to bowl England captain Harry Brook for five.
Joe Root and Sam Curran briefly steadied the ship, but Naseem Shah returned to shatter Root’s stumps for 33 and Curran miscued a pull. Arafat continued his rampage, accounting for Jordan Cox lbw and Jamie Overton holing out, while England’s final five wickets added just 38 runs.
England were bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs, with Arafat Minhas finishing with 6-40 and Pakistan securing their second win in the tri-series. England next play Sri Lanka at the same ground on Thursday.
Brief scores: Pakistan 302-9 in 50 overs (Hasan Nawaz 79, Arafat Minhas 59; Sonny Baker 3-65) beat England 215 in 38.4 overs (Tom Banton 57, Ben Duckett 45; Arafat Minhas 6-40) by 87 runs.