Pakistan Beat England by 87 Runs: Arafat Minhas Shines with Six Wickets in ODI Tri-Series

Pakistan vs England Match Analysis | 20 October 2026 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Pakista

n produced a commanding performance to defeat England by 87 runs in the second match of the Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka ODI Tri-Series 2026/27 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Pakistan posted 302 for nine in 50 overs before bowling England out for 215 in 38.4 overs.

The undisputed star was 21-year-old all-rounder Arafat Minhas, who scored 59 runs off 58 balls and then dismantled England's batting order with six wickets for 40 runs. Hasan Nawaz contributed 79, while Faheem Ashraf provided a crucial late acceleration with 39 off just 26 balls.

The victory demonstrated Pakistan's ability to recover from a difficult batting position and finish strongly, while England's promising start to the chase ultimately counted for nothing.

Pakistan's innings: A recovery that changed the match

England won the toss and elected to field, putting Pakistan under early pressure. Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman for a duck, Saim Ayub for eight and Babar Azam for 34. Salman Ali Agha departed for 16, leaving Pakistan at 81 for four.

At that stage, England appeared to have the upper hand. Pakistan needed a substantial partnership to prevent the innings from falling apart.

Saad Baig and Hasan Nawaz helped stabilise the innings, with Baig scoring 35 off 54 balls. His dismissal at 133 for five, however, left Pakistan needing another recovery.

Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas then changed the direction of the game. Hasan made 79 off 74 balls, including five fours and four sixes, while Arafat scored 59 off 58 deliveries, striking nine fours.

Their contributions helped Pakistan move from 133 for five to a much stronger position. After Hasan was bowled by Jamie Overton at 211, Arafat continued to score confidently.

Faheem Ashraf's explosive 39 off 26 balls, featuring five fours and a six, gave Pakistan the finishing momentum they needed. Shaheen Shah Afridi also contributed an unbeaten 10 off five balls.

Pakistan finished on 302 for nine, a competitive total that ultimately proved beyond England's reach.

Hasan Nawaz: The foundation of Pakistan's recovery

Hasan Nawaz's 79 was one of the most important innings of the match. He combined patience with attacking intent, ensuring Pakistan did not lose control after its early setbacks.

His innings helped rebuild confidence in the dressing room and put England under pressure. His dismissal by Overton prevented him from reaching a century, but his contribution had already established the foundation for Pakistan's recovery.

Hasan's performance also demonstrated why middle-order resilience is essential in ODI cricket. When the top order fails to provide a strong start, a batter who can rebuild and then accelerate can make the difference between an ordinary total and a match-winning one.

Arafat Minhas: From valuable runs to a match-winning bowling spell

Arafat Minhas delivered one of the most memorable all-round performances of the tri-series so far. His 59 runs helped Pakistan recover with the bat, but his left-arm spin proved even more destructive during England's chase.

Arafat finished with figures of 8.4 overs, 40 runs and six wickets. He removed Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Jamie Overton, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid.

His bowling was effective because he combined control, variation and an understanding of the batters' weaknesses. Rather than relying solely on turn, he attacked the stumps and forced England's batters to make difficult decisions.

Tom Banton: A crucial breakthrough

Tom Banton scored 57 off 53 balls and helped England establish a strong opening partnership with Ben Duckett. England reached 91 before Duckett was dismissed by Haris Rauf.

Banton continued to score freely, keeping England's chase on course. Arafat eventually dismissed him when Banton played a short delivery towards midwicket, where Shaheen Shah Afridi completed the catch.

The dismissal was important because England had looked comfortable at the crease. Banton's departure at 120 for two gave Pakistan an opportunity to attack the middle order.

Harry Brook: The delivery that changed the contest

Harry Brook's dismissal was arguably the defining moment of Arafat's spell.

Bowling from around the wicket, Arafat delivered a ball that straightened sharply after pitching. Brook misjudged the length and remained on the back foot when he needed to move forward. The ball beat his defence and struck the top of off and middle stump.

Brook departed for five, and England suddenly lost the assurance that had characterised their opening overs.

This was not simply a case of a batter playing a poor shot. Arafat's line, angle and movement forced Brook into the wrong position. It was an excellent example of left-arm spin creating uncertainty through accuracy and variation.

Jordan Cox: A response to an attacking shot

Jordan Cox attempted to put pressure on Arafat, including hitting him for six. The spinner responded effectively.

Arafat delivered a full ball that skidded on as Cox attempted to work it towards the leg side. Cox missed the delivery and was trapped leg before wicket for 18.

The dismissal demonstrated Arafat's composure. Instead of abandoning his plan after being attacked, he continued to target the stumps and forced the batter into a mistake.

Jamie Overton: England's collapse accelerates

Jamie Overton managed only one run before Arafat dismissed him. Overton attempted to play the ball but could not control the shot, chipping it towards long-on, where Hasan Nawaz took the catch.

At 205 for seven, England's chances of a recovery had become increasingly remote. Arafat's ability to dismiss lower-order batters prevented England from building the partnerships needed to stay in the contest.

Will Jacks: Another wicket for Arafat

Will Jacks scored 19 but failed to convert his innings into a meaningful contribution. He attempted a pull shot and hit the ball towards midwicket, where Shaheen Shah Afridi completed the catch.

It was another example of England losing a wicket while trying to force the scoring. Arafat's spell was making it difficult for the batters to attack with confidence.

Adil Rashid: The arm ball and the hat-trick opportunity

Arafat's sixth wicket came when he trapped Adil Rashid leg before wicket for a duck with an arm ball.

Rashid played down the wrong line and was struck on the pad. He reviewed the decision, but the review did not overturn the umpire's call.

The dismissal brought Arafat within reach of a hat-trick. Although he did not complete one, he finished the match with six wickets and helped bring England's innings to a close.

Arafat also played a direct role in the final wicket, running out Gus Atkinson for seven after a mix-up between the batters. England were all out for 215 in 38.4 overs.

Best delivery of the match: Arafat's ball to Harry Brook stands out for its combination of angle, length and sharp straightening. His arm ball to Rashid was another technically impressive delivery, showing his ability to attack both the stumps and the batter's pads.

Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah provide crucial support

Although Arafat dominated the headlines, Pakistan's pace bowlers also played important roles.

Haris Rauf dismissed Ben Duckett for 43 and Sam Curran for 27. Duckett's departure ended England's opening partnership, while Curran's dismissal at 177 for five made the chase significantly harder.

Naseem Shah removed Joe Root for 33 with a quick, straight delivery that kept low and struck the stumps. Root's wicket was particularly valuable because he was one of England's most experienced batters and could have helped rebuild the innings.

These breakthroughs allowed Arafat to maintain pressure on the remaining batters. Pakistan's success came from a combination of spin, pace and timely wickets rather than a single bowler's effort alone.

England's batting: A promising start followed by collapse

England began their chase positively. Tom Banton scored 57 and Ben Duckett made 43, with the opening pair putting together 91 runs.

At that point, England appeared well positioned to chase 303. Their scoring rate was manageable, and they had wickets in hand.

However, the dismissal of Duckett was followed by Banton's departure and then Brook's dismissal. Joe Root made 33, but Naseem Shah bowled him at 165 for four.

Sam Curran scored 27, yet England could not establish the substantial partnerships required to recover. Arafat's wickets then exposed the lower order, and the innings ended at 215.

What England did wrong

1. They failed to capitalise on the opening partnership.

The 91-run opening stand gave England an excellent platform. However, they could not convert that start into a match-winning partnership through the middle overs.

2. They lost key batters in quick succession.

Brook's dismissal was particularly damaging, while Root's departure prevented England from establishing a new partnership. Once wickets began falling regularly, the pressure shifted decisively towards the lower order.

3. They struggled to rotate the strike against spin.

England captain Harry Brook acknowledged after the match that his team lost too many wickets in clusters and failed to build partnerships. He also indicated that England had been too cautious against the spinners when they could have put them under greater pressure.

4. Their shot selection became costly.

Several batters attempted attacking strokes without adequately managing the risk. Banton and Jacks were caught after pulling the ball, while Cox was trapped leg before wicket after attempting to work a delivery towards the leg side.

England needed to respond to Arafat's accuracy with better strike rotation and selective aggression. Instead, Pakistan continued to take wickets.

5. They could not find a response to Arafat's variations.

Arafat's spell exposed England's difficulty in reading the line and length of the ball. His ability to straighten deliveries and attack the stumps made it difficult for the batters to settle.

England's defeat was therefore not simply a result of the target being too high. Their inability to adapt to Pakistan's bowling and maintain partnerships was central to the outcome.

The turning point: Harry Brook's dismissal

The match's decisive turning point came when Arafat bowled Harry Brook for five.

England had reached 120 for two and were still capable of chasing the target. Brook's departure at 128 for three changed the mood of the innings, and Pakistan gained further momentum when Naseem Shah bowled Root at 165 for four.

Haris Rauf then dismissed Curran at 177 for five, leaving England increasingly dependent on their lower order. Arafat continued taking wickets until England were nine down, before his direct-hit run-out of Atkinson ended the contest.

The key lesson was that Pakistan's bowlers did not need to dominate from the first over. They needed to break England's partnerships and prevent the batters from recovering. Once that happened, the chase unravelled.

What Pakistan should learn from this victory

The result will give Pakistan confidence, particularly because the team recovered from 81 for four to post 302 for nine. Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas demonstrated the value of a resilient middle order, while Faheem Ashraf showed how aggressive finishing can strengthen a total.

However, Pakistan should not overlook its early batting problems. Losing four wickets for 81 runs is a warning that the top order must provide greater stability against stronger attacks.

Arafat's performance also offers Pakistan an encouraging option for the future. A young player who can contribute useful runs, take wickets and remain composed under pressure gives the team greater balance.

The challenge will be to maintain this standard in the remaining matches rather than relying on exceptional individual performances every time.

Next match: Sri Lanka vs England

The next fixture in the ODI Tri-Series is Sri Lanka versus England on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

• Match: Sri Lanka vs England
• Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
• Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
• Scheduled start: 1:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time

Pakistan will face England again on Sunday, 25 October, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. That encounter will give England an opportunity to respond and Pakistan another chance to demonstrate that this victory was not a one-off performance.

Final verdict: Pakistan's young talent delivers

Pakistan's 87-run victory was built on resilience with the bat and discipline with the ball. Hasan Nawaz's 79 and Arafat Minhas's 59 rescued the innings after early setbacks, while Faheem Ashraf's late hitting helped Pakistan cross 300.

England's opening stand raised hopes of a successful chase, but Arafat's outstanding spell changed the match. His six wickets for 40 runs, capped by the run-out of Atkinson, made this a memorable all-round performance.

For Pakistan, the biggest positive is the emergence of a young player capable of influencing a match in all three disciplines. For England, the lesson is equally clear: a strong start means little without partnerships through the middle overs.

Player of the Match: Arafat Minhas — 59 runs and 6 wickets for 40 runs.

Pakistan have made a strong statement in the tri-series. The next challenge is to build on this performance, improve the top-order consistency and carry the same intensity into the remaining fixtures.

Sources: Pakistan Cricket Board official scorecard and schedule; The Guardian's match report and live commentary. This article is a match analysis based on the reported scorecard and match events.