Match Summary
- Pakistan: 302-9 (50 overs) – Hasan Nawaz 79 (74), Arafat Minhas 59 (58); Sonny Baker 3-65
- England: 215 all out (38.4 overs) – Tom Banton 57 (53); Arafat Minhas 6-40
- Result: Pakistan won by 87 runs
England kicked off a demanding winter schedule with a sloppy performance in Rawalpindi, suffering an 87-run defeat to Pakistan in the opening match of the one-day tri-series. This tour marks the first of five separate assignments across four countries, serving as a crucial evaluation period as England builds toward next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa. Faced with making the second-highest score to win an ODI at the Rawalpindi Stadium, England made a rapid start to the chase, only for further errors to let Pakistan back in. Not only is this the beginning of England’s winter â two trips to Australia and Test tours of South Africa and Bangladesh follow â but also the start of a long run-in to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa next year.
Pakistan’s victory was anchored by Arafat Minhas, whose versatile performance completely derailed the visitors.
After chipping in with a vital 59 off 58 balls, the all-rounder decimated England’s batting lineup with his left-arm spin, returning career-best figures of 6-40.
His contribution was underscored by a pivotal 79-run knock from Hasan Nawaz, which rescued the hosts after they slipped to 133-5 in the 28th over. The hosts could have wilted, yet Nawaz’s slog-sweep for six from the first ball he faced from Adil Rashid was the beginning of Pakistan’s fightback, from 133-5 in the 28th over.
England’s fielding proved costly, particularly a missed chance when wicketkeeper Jordan Cox dropped Arafat on 12, allowing the all-rounder to help push Pakistan to a competitive 302-9. Asked to bat, Pakistan were 190-5 in the 37th over when diving wicketkeeper Jordan Cox put down Arafat on 12, one of three catches England dropped. Along with Arafat and Faheem Ashraf, Nawaz carried Pakistan to what seemed no more than a competitive total on a flat pitch.
Despite these lapses, England initially looked comfortable in the chase, reaching 91-0. However, the momentum shifted once Ben Duckett fell for 45 and Tom Banton, who had hit a rapid 57, was caught after mistiming a shot off Arafat. At 91-0, Ben Duckett top-edged a pull to depart for 45 and, crucially, Tom Banton was caught for 57 when he shovelled Arafat’s long hop to mid-wicket. When night fell, Arafat produced his magical spell to the delight of a noisy full house.
The collapse was swift and comprehensive. Captain Harry Brook was clean-bowled for five by a sharp delivery from Arafat, while Joe Root departed for 33 after failing to handle a low ball from Naseem Shah. England lost their final seven wickets for just 50 runs, ending on 215 with a final blow coming from a calamitous run-out of Gus Atkinson.
While England were without first-choice players like Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, and Jacob Bethell, the defeat marks a setback in their preparation for a potential series of 21 ODIs leading up to the World Cup. The result represents England’s first ODI loss in Pakistan since 2005 and their first defeat in a tri-series format since 2015. Nevertheless, this was a game they could have won had they not wasted their opportunities, while squad players missed chances to press their case. Who are a vastly different proposition in this format on home soil to the team soundly beaten in the Test series in the UK last month, to focus on England’s shortcomings would be a disservice to Pakistan.
Pakistan now have two wins from two matches, placing them on the verge of reaching the final. England will aim to recover from this opening loss when they face Sri Lanka at the same venue this Thursday.
