Sensational Arafat Minhas ripped England apart with magical six-wicket haul to headline the Green Shirts’ emphatic 87-run victory in the ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
In a performance packed with authority, resilience and match-winning brilliance, Minhas first rescued Pakistan’s innings with a maiden ODI half-century before returning to demolish England’s batting line-up. His outstanding all-round contribution powered Pakistan to 302-9 and then helped bowl England out for just 215 in 38.5 overs.
The result marked Pakistan’s second victory of the tournament, but the emergence of Minhas as a potential match-winner was the headline story, with the youngster delivering a statement performance when his team needed it most.
England discovered the full impact of Minhas’s talent at both ends of the innings, as the left-hander transformed a difficult afternoon for Pakistan into a commanding victory.
Walking in when Pakistan needed stability, Minhas struck 59 off 58 deliveries, smashing nine boundaries to revive the innings. With the ball, he proved even more destructive, claiming six wickets to shatter England’s hopes of chasing down the target.
His dismissal of dangerous opener Tom Banton for 57 provided Pakistan with a crucial breakthrough after England had established a strong platform. Minhas then delivered another major blow by removing captain Harry Brook for just five runs.
The spinner continued his assault as England’s middle and lower order crumbled. Jordan Cox fell for 18, Jamie Overton managed only one, and Minhas struck twice in consecutive deliveries to dismiss Will Jacks and Adil Rashid.
He also contributed to the run-out of Sonny Baker as England’s innings came to an end.
For a Pakistan side seeking greater balance in its ODI combination, Minhas’s display offered a compelling argument for his inclusion in future plans. At just 21, he demonstrated the ability to absorb pressure with the bat and rip through an opposition with the ball.
Pakistan’s innings began in disastrous fashion when Gus Atkinson removed Fakhar Zaman with the very first delivery. Saim Ayub followed for eight, while Babar Azam managed 34 from 52 balls before Will Jacks broke through.
Salman Ali Agha, coming off a century in the opening match, could add only 16 as Pakistan found themselves struggling to build momentum.
With the innings threatening to unravel, Hasan Nawaz and Saad Baig mounted a determined recovery. Their 51-run partnership helped Pakistan regain some control before Atkinson dismissed Baig, who had contributed 35 from 54 deliveries.
Hasan then took the attack to England, registering his second consecutive ODI half-century and providing the innings with much-needed aggression.
The right-hander hammered 79 off 74 balls, including five fours and four sixes, before Jamie Overton brought his innings to an end. His contribution proved instrumental in pushing Pakistan beyond the danger zone and laying the groundwork for a competitive total.
Minhas carried the fight forward, combining with Faheem Ashraf in a vital 72-run stand that gave Pakistan fresh momentum in the closing stages.
Ashraf unleashed a late assault, smashing 39 from only 25 deliveries, while Minhas remained composed to complete his maiden ODI fifty. The youngster eventually departed for 59, but the damage had already been done to England’s bowling plans.
Shaheen Afridi added an unbeaten 10 as Pakistan finished at 302-9 in their allotted 50 overs — a strong recovery after losing early wickets and struggling to establish control at the start.
England appeared firmly in the contest when Tom Banton and Ben Duckett stitched together a 91-run opening partnership. The pair gave the visitors a promising start and briefly threatened to turn the chase into a serious challenge for Pakistan.
Haris Rauf broke the stand by dismissing Duckett for 45 off 46 balls, opening the door for Pakistan to attack the middle order.
Banton continued to score freely, making 57 from 53 deliveries with five boundaries and two sixes. However, Minhas removed the opener at a pivotal moment, denying England the chance to build on their strong start.
The dismissal of Brook for five further destabilised the chase, leaving England at 120-3 and placing the responsibility on their remaining experienced batters.
Joe Root and Sam Curran attempted to halt the slide, but Pakistan’s pace attack ensured the pressure never eased. Naseem Shah bowled Root for 33, while Rauf dismissed Curran for 27 to leave England struggling to keep pace with the required target.
Then came Minhas’s decisive burst.
The young spinner continued to rip through the batting order, removing Cox and Overton before sending Jacks and Rashid back on consecutive deliveries. England’s resistance collapsed as wickets fell in quick succession, and the visitors were eventually dismissed for 215 in 38.5 overs.
Rauf and Naseem played crucial supporting roles, ensuring Pakistan maintained control after breaking England’s opening partnership.
England’s bowling effort saw Sonny Baker claim three wickets for 65 runs, while Atkinson picked up two. Jacks, Overton, Rashid and Curran took one wicket each.
However, Pakistan’s ability to recover from an early collapse ultimately proved decisive. Hasan Nawaz laid the foundation with an attacking half-century, Minhas supplied another crucial contribution, and Faheem Ashraf accelerated the scoring when the innings needed a late push.
The bowlers then completed the job, with Minhas delivering a devastating spell that turned England’s promising chase into a comprehensive defeat.
The 87-run victory gives Pakistan another important boost in the tri-series, but the bigger talking point is the emergence of a young all-rounder capable of influencing a match in both departments.
Minhas has now given the team management a performance to consider as Pakistan looks to strengthen its ODI options and find players who can deliver under pressure.