RAWALPINDI: Arafat Minhas produced a commanding all-round performance to guide Pakistan to an 87-run victory over England in the One-day International tri-series match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The left-arm spinner, who had earlier struck a crucial half-century, claimed six wickets for 40 runs in 8.4 overs as England were bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs while chasing 303.
The match ended with a moment that underlined Arafat’s influence on the contest. With England nine wickets down, Gus Atkinson and Sonny Baker were stranded at the same end when Arafat initially fumbled a throw from the deep. He recovered quickly and, with his slingy left arm, fired in a flat direct hit that crashed into the stumps to complete Pakistan’s emphatic win.
England had started the chase in confident fashion through Tom Banton and Ben Duckett, who put on 91 for the opening wicket in 14.3 overs. Duckett scored 45 off 46 balls with eight fours, while Banton made 57 from 53 deliveries, hitting five fours and two sixes.
Haris Rauf broke the opening stand when Duckett mistimed a pull and Fakhar Zaman held the catch at deep fine leg. Arafat then shifted the momentum firmly Pakistan’s way, striking with his third delivery as Banton swung across the line and found Shaheen Shah Afridi at midwicket.
The spinner struck again when he bowled England captain Harry Brook for five with a delivery that gripped and straightened, leaving the visitors at 128-3. Naseem Shah then removed Joe Root, bowling him for 33 off 35 balls with a skidding delivery that kept low and hit the off stump.
Sam Curran and Jordan Cox tried to keep England in the contest, but Pakistan continued to take wickets at regular intervals. Curran made 27 before top-edging a pull off Haris to substitute fielder Ghazi Ghori at deep backward square leg. Cox scored 18 before he was trapped leg-before by a quicker delivery from Arafat and lost his review.
Arafat continued to run through the lower order, dismissing Jamie Overton for one after Hasan Nawaz took the catch at long-on when the batter charged down the pitch.
Will Jacks briefly threatened a counterattack, striking Haris for six, but fell for 19 when he miscued Arafat to Shaheen at short midwicket.
Arafat completed his six-wicket haul in the 39th over by trapping Adil Rashid leg-before for a first-ball duck. The run-out of Atkinson then sealed a commanding Pakistan victory.
England captain Brook acknowledged that his side had made a promising start but failed to capitalise after the opening stand, with wickets falling in clusters.
