After Hasan’s dismissal, Arafat took responsibility for carrying the innings forward.

RAWALPINDI: Arafat Minhas delivered a stunning all-round performance as Pakistan defeated England by 87 runs in their One-day International tri-series clash at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

The left-arm spinner scored a crucial 59 off 58 balls before taking six wickets for 40 runs in 8.4 overs, helping Pakistan bowl England out for 215 in 38.4 overs while chasing a target of 303.

Arafat also completed the final act of the match by running out Gus Atkinson after England’s last two batters found themselves stranded at the same end. Despite initially fumbling the ball, he recovered to deliver a direct throw that hit the stumps and sealed Pakistan’s comprehensive victory.

His six-wicket haul, combined with a valuable contribution with the bat, made him the standout performer of the contest.

England’s Strong Start Unravels

England began their chase confidently, with Tom Banton and Ben Duckett putting together an opening partnership of 91 in 14.3 overs.

Duckett scored 45 off 46 balls, including eight boundaries, while Banton contributed 57 from 53 deliveries, striking five fours and two sixes.

Haris Rauf broke the partnership when Duckett mistimed a pull shot and Fakhar Zaman took the catch at deep fine leg.

Arafat then shifted the momentum decisively, dismissing Banton with his third delivery as the opener attempted a cross-batted shot and picked out Shaheen Shah Afridi at midwicket.

The spinner struck again by bowling England captain Harry Brook for five with a delivery that gripped and straightened, leaving the visitors struggling at 128-3.

Naseem Shah subsequently removed Joe Root for 33 off 35 balls with a skidding delivery that kept low and struck the off stump.

Sam Curran and Jordan Cox tried to steady England’s innings, but their resistance gradually faded.

Curran scored 27 before top-edging a pull shot off Haris to substitute fielder Ghazi Ghori at deep backward square leg. Cox made 18 before Arafat trapped him leg-before with a quicker delivery.

Arafat continued to dismantle England’s lower order, dismissing Jamie Overton for one when Hasan Nawaz took a catch at long-on after the batter charged down the pitch.

Will Jacks briefly threatened to revive the chase by hitting Haris for six, but fell for 19 after mistiming a shot off Arafat to Shaheen at short midwicket.

Arafat then trapped Adil Rashid leg-before for a first-ball duck in the 39th over to complete his six-wicket haul.

The final run-out of Atkinson sealed England’s defeat.

Brook Admits England Failed to Build Partnerships

England captain Harry Brook acknowledged that his team had made a promising start but failed to capitalise after losing its opening partnership.

“Banton and Ducky set the tone beautifully, but we lost the wickets in clumps and could not put on a partnership and ended up on the wrong side,” Brook said.

He also felt England had been too cautious against Pakistan’s spinners and missed an opportunity to put them under pressure.

“We were a bit too much circumspect against the spinners. We could have put them under pressure, I feel,” he said.

Brook added that England would review their shortcomings and aim to recover in the next match.

Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas Rescue Pakistan

Pakistan’s total of 302-9 was built on a strong recovery after the hosts slipped to 133-5 following England’s decision to field first.

Hasan Nawaz and Arafat combined for a sixth-wicket partnership of 78 runs off 74 balls, rescuing Pakistan’s innings and laying the foundation for a competitive total.

Hasan scored 79 off 74 deliveries, hitting five fours and four sixes, while Arafat contributed 59 from 58 balls, including nine boundaries.

After Hasan’s dismissal at 211-6 in the 40th over, Arafat continued to guide the innings alongside Faheem Ashraf.

Faheem added a quickfire 39 off 26 balls, including consecutive boundaries against Adil Rashid and a six off Joe Root. He was dismissed in the 49th over, caught by Jacks at deep midwicket.

Arafat eventually fell for 59 after mistiming a shot off Sonny Baker, with Brook taking the catch at cover. Shaheen Shah Afridi then struck late boundaries to help Pakistan cross the 300-run mark, finishing with 10 off five balls.

Pakistan Struggle After Early Wickets

Pakistan’s innings had begun poorly when Atkinson dismissed Fakhar Zaman for a first-ball duck, caught by Root at short midwicket.

Saim Ayub attempted to counterattack but fell for eight in the sixth over, skying a delivery from Baker to Curran with Pakistan at 31-2.

Babar Azam and Saad Baig tried to stabilise the innings, but Babar’s 34 off 52 balls ended when Will Jacks breached his defences in the 15th over.

Rashid then dismissed Salman Ali Agha for 16, caught by Atkinson at deep fine leg, leaving Pakistan at 81-4.

Saad and Hasan added 52 runs for the fifth wicket before Atkinson returned to dismiss Saad for 35 off 54 deliveries.

Hasan and Arafat subsequently took control, finding boundaries through the off side and punishing loose deliveries to rebuild Pakistan’s innings.

Hasan’s departure brought Faheem to the crease, and his aggressive batting helped Pakistan maintain momentum during the closing overs.

Arafat Credits Slower Pitch for Bowling Success

Speaking after the match, Arafat said the slower surface had offered more assistance to spinners than in the previous game. He also highlighted the importance of varying his deliveries to deceive batters.

“I have kept my plans simple. There was not much help for the spinners in the first match. The pitch was on the slower side today, which helped me,” he said.

“Variations are very important for a spinner as they help in deceiving the batters. I have worked on my variations.”

Arafat added that his partnership with Hasan had been crucial in rebuilding Pakistan’s innings after the early setbacks.

“We needed an important partnership when I walked in the middle. Hasan and I discussed that we need to bat deep,” he said at the presentation ceremony, speaking to Urooj Mumtaz.

After Hasan’s dismissal, Arafat took responsibility for carrying the innings forward.

“I took the charge after Hasan got out and I tried to bat until the end of the innings, which helped in taking the score beyond 300,” he said.

Shaheen Calls for Greater Top-Order Consistency

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi praised the contributions of Hasan, Arafat and Faheem but acknowledged that the top order needed to perform more consistently.

“It was really good how Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, and Faheem Ashraf batted, but we also need our top-order to fire,” he said.

Shaheen described Arafat as a promising all-rounder who