Arafat Minhas delivered an all-round performance to help Pakistan defeat England by 87 runs, securing their second win in the ongoing ODI tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Chasing a target of 303, England were bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs despite a strong start from openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett.
Haris Rauf broke the stand in the 15th over by dismissing Duckett, who fell five runs short of his half-century after scoring 45 off 46 deliveries, including eight boundaries. Banton continued to bat sensibly, building a steady partnership with Harry Brook to take England past the 100-run mark.
The right-handed batter eventually fell to Arafat Minhas in the 19th over after scoring a fighting 57 off 53 deliveries, including five boundaries and two sixes. His dismissal left England at 120-2 in 18.3 overs.
In the 21st over, Minhas struck again to remove England captain Brook, who managed just five off seven deliveries. Sam Curran and Joe Root then attempted to revive the chase, building a partnership that took England past the 150-run mark.
However, Naseem Shah provided Pakistan with a crucial breakthrough by bowling Root for 33 off 35 deliveries. England were reduced to 165-4 in 28.5 overs.
Pakistan continued to tighten their grip on the contest as Rauf struck again, dismissing Curran for 27 off 39 deliveries. Minhas claimed his third wicket by dismissing Jordan Cox for 18.
The visitors were left struggling at 197-6 in 34.5 overs. Minhas continued his impressive spell, claiming his fourth wicket by dismissing Jamie Overton for one.
The all-rounder then struck twice in consecutive deliveries during his ninth over, dismissing Will Jacks for 19 before removing Adil Rashid for a first-ball duck to complete his second five-wicket haul in ODIs. Minhas capped off his performance by running out Gus Atkinson, sealing an emphatic victory for Pakistan.
Arafat Minhas spearheaded Pakistan's bowling attack with figures of 6/40 in 8.4 overs. Haris Rauf claimed two wickets, while Naseem Shah chipped in with one.
Earlier, half-centuries from Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas helped Pakistan recover from an early wobble to post 302. Pakistan endured an early collapse as Gus Atkinson struck off the first ball, dismissing Fakhar Zaman, while Sonny Baker removed Saim Ayub for eight.
Babar Azam scored 34 off 52 balls, but Will Jacks dismissed him to leave Pakistan at 59-3. Salman Ali Agha managed 16 before falling to Adil Rashid.
Saad Baig and Hasan Nawaz added 51 runs before Atkinson dismissed Saad for 35. Nawaz reached his second consecutive ODI half-century.
Their 78-run partnership ended when Jamie Overton bowled Nawaz for 79. Minhas then anchored the innings alongside Faheem Ashraf to help Pakistan reach 302.