10/20/2026 11:16:00
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10/20 11:14 CDT Superb all-round effort by Minhas as Pakistan floors England in
ODI tri-series
Superb all-round effort by Minhas as Pakistan floors England in ODI tri-series
RIZWAN ALI
AP Sports Writer
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) --- All-rounder Arafat Minhas spearheaded Pakistan's
87-run victory over England with a half century and a six-wicket haul as the
home team notched its second successive win in the ODI tri-series on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old left-hander Minhas helped Pakistan to 302-9 with 59 off 58
balls after England captain Harry Brook had won the toss and elected to field.
Minhas then undid England's strong reply with his left-arm spin to grab 6-40,
including the prize wicket of Brook for 5, as the visitors were bowled out for
215 with more than 11 overs to spare in their opening game of the tournament,
which also features Sri Lanka.
On Thursday, England takes on Sri Lanka, which lost the first match against
Pakistan by 37 runs on Sunday.
Minhas magic after England's explosive start
Opening pair Tom Banton (57) and Ben Duckett (45) provided England with a
whirlwind start of 91 in 14.3 overs before Duckett mistimed a pull against
Haris Rauf and was caught at long leg.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi's ploy to deploy spinners from both ends
then worked well. Minhas had Banton caught at short mid-wicket in his second
over before he bowled Brook with a ball that spun a long way.
Joe Root hit 33 and Sam Curran, promoted to No. 5, made 27 but the rest of the
batters crumbled.
Root's off-stump was knocked back by Naseem Shah before Minhas hurried through
the middle-order as England lost the last five wickets for only 18 runs.
Minhas wrapped up victory by running out Gus Atkinson with a direct throw.
He became the third Pakistan all-rounder, after Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi,
to grab a five-wicket haul and score a half century in an ODI.
Nawaz and Minhas shine with bat
Earlier, half centuries from Minhas and Hasan Nawaz rescued Pakistan after the
top-order had struggled on a good wicket for batting at the Rawalpindi Cricket
Stadium.
Nawaz, in his 6th ODI, made a career-best 79 while Minhas posted a maiden ODI
half century as the pair put on 78 for the sixth wicket after Pakistan had slid
to 133-5.
Root snapped up a brilliant low catch at short mid-wicket to dismiss Fakhar
Zaman off Atkinson's first ball, while fellow opener Saim Ayub's struggles with
the bat continued when he top-edged Sonny Baker's short ball to deep fine-leg
on 8.
Babar Azam (34) started confidently with three boundaries against Baker, who
was expensive in his opening spell, before the former captain wasted another
good start and was bowled by Will Jacks.
Salman Ali Agha, a centurion in the first game, missed out on a low full toss
from Adil Rashid and was caught by Atkinson at backward square leg.
Saad Baig, who made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka on Sunday, showed a lot of
promise before he was caught in the outfield off Atkinson for 35.
Nawaz, who started with a first-ball six off Rashid over long-on, got a life on
28 when Atkinson couldn't hold onto a catch at backward square leg.
He reached his half century off 46 balls before Overton bowled him with a
perfect yorker.
Minhas was twice dropped on 42 off Curran and then smashed three boundaries
against the left-arm seamer
Faheem Ashraf struck 39 off 26 balls while paceman Baker grabbed two late
wickets to finish with career-best figures of 3-65.
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