Fortune favours the brave, and on Sunday it favoured Shadab Khan just when he seemed to have been abandoned by it.
He had dragged Pakistan from the brink of defeat to within touching distance of victory in the One-day International tri-series match against England. And it had taken extraordinary bravery to do so.
With the last wicket standing and Haris Rauf holding firm at the other end, Pakistan needed 27 runs when Shadab swept Gus Atkinson for six over fine leg.
Before the sparse crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium could finish celebrating, Atkinson fired a full delivery into Shadab’s pads. England appealed in unison and the umpire raised his finger.
Shadab, already regretting the momentary lapse, tapped his bat against his helmet in frustration before reviewing the decision, more out of obligation than hope.
Then came the twist. The big screen showed a spike on UltraEdge as the ball passed the bat. The decision was overturned, disbelief gave way to delight and Shadab returned to the crease with a smile.
He responded by squeezing Atkinson for four between short third and backward point to bring up his maiden ODI century off 91 balls, then whipped another full delivery through square leg for four.
After two dot balls, he pumped Atkinson over long-off for six, leaving Pakistan one hit away from victory.
Haris, who had faced 18 balls for his three runs, settled the contest in the next over, drilling debutant Henry Crocombe straight down the ground for four.
Pakistan reached 243-9 in 47.1 overs to complete a remarkable one-wicket victory, seal their place in the Oct 31 final and condemn England to another agonising defeat.
Shadab remained unbeaten on 113 off 96 balls, with 13 fours and five sixes, while his unbroken 89-run stand with Haris set a record for the highest 10th-wicket partnership in a successful ODI chase, surpassing the previous mark of 64.
The unlikely rescue began when Shadab walked in at 103-5 after Arafat Minhas fell for one.
Pakistan had been chasing England’s 241 all out but were already in trouble, having lost Fakhar Zaman (10), Saim Ayub (six) and Babar Azam (10) inside seven overs. Saad Baig briefly counter-attacked with 32 off 22 balls, including seven fours, before falling at 74-4.
Hasan Nawaz made 15 before Liam Dawson dismissed him at 102, and Arafat followed in the next over.
Shadab initially worked his way into the innings, but his task grew harder when Salman Ali Agha, who had made 26 off 49 balls, was caught off Dawson at 121-6.
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Razaullah also fell, leaving Pakistan 154-9 after 33.5 overs and still needing 88 runs.
Shadab, however, refused to surrender. He reached 32 before Haris arrived, then began to attack with greater conviction.
He drove Atkinson over mid-off and pulled him through deep midwicket for boundaries, while a six over midwicket from Razaullah at the other end briefly lifted the pressure before the debutant was bowled by Will Jacks.
Shadab’s fifty came off 49 balls, with a six over deep square leg against Crocombe. He then used his feet to Dawson, sweeping a full toss for four and carving another six over wide long-off.
Reverse-sweeps and crisp drives through cover kept the chase alive as England struggled to find the final breakthrough.
With Haris offering dogged support, Shadab brought up the 50-run stand for the last wicket and then moved into the 90s with a pull for four off Sam Curran.
He declined singles at times to retain the strike, taking responsibility for almost every scoring opportunity. His century made him only the third batter to score an ODI hundred at No. 8 or lower.
Pakistan’s bowling shines under Shaheen
Earlier, Ben Duckett had stood tall with a century as England crumbled around him, managing 241 in 46.4 overs.
Shaheen led Pakistan’s attack with 4-46, reducing the visitors to 19-3 inside five overs. Tom Banton fell for four, Joe Root made five and captain Harry Brook was run out for one. Haris then removed Jordan Cox for six as England slumped to 52-4.
Duckett rebuilt the innings, reaching his half-century off 56 balls and helping England past 100 in the 20th over.
He pulled Haris for four, launched Salman over deep midwicket for six and reverse-hit another boundary. Curran provided the only substantial support, scoring 42 off 52 balls as the pair added 93 for the fifth wicket.
Shaheen broke the stand by dismissing Curran, caught at fine leg, before Duckett reached his fifth ODI century off 104 balls — his first against Pakistan. He made 105 off 111 deliveries, including 10 fours and two sixes, before Arafat had him caught at short fine leg for 187-7.
Razaullah took two wickets, including Will Jacks for 13, while Arafat also dismissed Jamie Overton for 10. Atkinson’s unbeaten 36 off 28 balls, featuring three sixes, lifted England to 241 before Shaheen dismissed Crocombe for eight to finish with four wickets.
England’s total looked competitive when Pakistan collapsed, but Shadab’s extraordinary innings turned the match on its head and carried the hosts into the final.
Haris Rauf compounded England’s troubles when Jordan Cox edged behind to Babar Azam for six, leaving the visitors struggling at 52-4 in the 10th over.
Duckett, however, refused to let the innings unravel completely. The left-hander brought up his half-century off 56 balls as England reached 100 in the 20th over, keeping the scoreboard moving with well-timed cuts, drives and sweeps.
He pulled Haris through midwicket for four before launching Salman Ali Agha over deep midwicket for six. Duckett also produced a reverse-hit boundary against Salman and pierced the covers with a crisp drive off Shadab Khan.
At the other end, Sam Curran provided the only meaningful support, counter-attacking with a series of boundaries. He charged down the track to lift Saim over mid-on and later rocked back to dispatch the spinner through midwicket.
The pair added 93 runs for the fifth wicket, taking England from 52-4 to 145 before Shaheen returned to break the stand in the 27th over. Curran, who scored 42 off 52 balls with five fours, top-edged a pull off a short delivery to Salman at fine leg.
Duckett continued to hold the innings together, reaching his fifth ODI century off 104 balls and his first against Pakistan. He struck 105 off 111 deliveries, including 10 fours and two sixes, before Arafat dismissed him in the 37th over, with Salman taking the catch at short fine leg.
England then lost Will Jacks (13) to Razaullah, who took a sharp return catch for his maiden ODI wicket, while Liam Dawson (five) fell to another short ball, caught by Shadab at deep square leg. Arafat also removed Jamie Overton (10), caught by Babar at long-off.
Gus Atkinson offered late resistance with an unbeaten 36 off 28 balls, including three sixes, helping England cross 200. Shaheen eventually ended the innings by dismissing debutant Henry Crocombe for eight, with Babar completing the catch.