Arafat Minhas shines as Pakistan beat England by 87 runs in ODI tri-series
The hosts bowled England out for 215 while defending a target of 303 in Rawalpindi
Syed Irtiza Ali
Associate Producer, Karachi
Syed Irtiza Ali is a sports journalist with writing experience since 2016. For five years, contributed freelance articles to The News on Sunday (TNS), on all major sports. In late 2021, joined Geo News as a Sports Sub-Editor. Have written bylines for TNS, Geo, and Geo Super. He aims to bring attention to overlooked sports such as squash and hockey.
Arafat Minhas scored 59 off 58 deliveries and took 6/40 in 8.4 overs.
AFP
Arafat Minhas starred with both bat and ball as Pakistan defeated England by 87 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday to secure their second win in the ongoing ODI tri-series.
Minhas scored 59 off 58 deliveries before returning figures of 6/40 in 8.4 overs to help bowl England out for 215 while chasing a target of 303.
How did Pakistan restrict England’s chase?
England openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett made a strong start, putting together a 91-run partnership. Duckett scored 45 off 46 balls before Haris Rauf broke the stand, while Banton struck 57 off 53 deliveries before falling to Minhas.
Minhas then dismissed England captain Harry Brook for five before Naseem Shah removed Joe Root for 33. Rauf sent back Sam Curran for 27, while Minhas continued to trouble the visitors, dismissing Jordan Cox, Jamie Overton, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid before running out Gus Atkinson to seal the victory.
How did Pakistan recover from an early collapse?
Earlier, Pakistan recovered from a shaky start to post 302-9 after being put in to bat.
Gus Atkinson dismissed Fakhar Zaman off the first ball, while Saim Ayub fell for eight. Babar Azam scored 34 before Will Jacks removed him, and Adil Rashid dismissed Salman Ali Agha for 16, leaving Pakistan at 81-4.
Hasan Nawaz and Saad Baig steadied the innings with a 52-run partnership. Baig contributed 35 off 54 balls before Atkinson broke the stand.
Hasan and Minhas rebuild before Faheem’s late flourish
Hasan then combined with Minhas for a crucial 78-run partnership. He scored 79 off 74 deliveries, including five fours and four sixes, before Jamie Overton bowled him.
Minhas continued to build Pakistan’s total alongside Faheem Ashraf, with the pair adding 72 runs for the seventh wicket. Faheem scored a brisk 39 off 26 balls before Sam Curran dismissed him, while Minhas fell to Sonny Baker after reaching 59.
Captain Shaheen Afridi added an unbeaten 10 off five deliveries to help Pakistan cross the 300-run mark.
Baker finished with 3/65 in nine overs, while Atkinson claimed two wickets. Jacks, Overton, Rashid and Curran took one wicket each.
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