Arafat Minhas six-for steers Pakistan to 87-run win over England in tri-series opener

Arafat Minhas took six for 40 and scored 59 as Pakistan defeated England by 87 runs in the opening match of the one-day international tri-series in Rawalpindi on 20 October 2026. England, chasing 303, were bowled out for 215 as Minhas’s left-arm spin and a late Pakistan surge decided the game.

England collapsed after a brisk start to the chase, leaving Pakistan with a welcome victory after a difficult English summer, according to the match report. Pakistan recovered from 81 for four to post 302, helped by a lower-order revival and a late flurry of runs. The visitors began their innings positively but lost momentum as Pakistan tightened control with spin. The match served as England’s first game in the tri-series.

Pakistan’s top order faltered early: Fakhar Zaman chipped the first ball to midwicket and Saim Ayub was bounced out for eight by Sonny Baker. Babar Azam offered some resistance but was bowled by Will Jacks for 34 while attempting a clip off the back foot. The game narrative also noted Salman Agha’s recent run of form and selection swings, including a triple hundred in first-class cricket and a matchwinning century against Sri Lanka on Sunday in the tri-series opener.

Hasan Nawaz supplied the first substantial recovery, welcoming Adil Rashid’s flight by striking the first of three sixes he would hit off the veteran legspinner. The 24-year-old, six ODIs into his career, built partnerships with Saad Baig and Minhas after being dropped on 28 by Gus Atkinson; he was eventually yorked by Jamie Overton with an 87mph delivery and finished on 74. Minhas’s contribution with the bat at No 7 helped stabilise the innings alongside Nawaz.

Minhas led Pakistan’s final acceleration, making 59 off 58 balls, while Faheem Ashraf added a quick 39 off 26 deliveries to push the total past 300. Pakistan scored 91 in the last 10 overs, needing four off the final ball to reach 302. That late scoring phase set a target England could not overhaul despite an early opening stand.

England’s chase began strongly as Tom Banton and Ben Duckett put on 91 for the first wicket, Banton reaching 57 before slapping a Minhas delivery to midwicket in the 19th over. Harry Brook, who has five of his 15 international hundreds against Pakistan, was dismissed for five when Minhas’s delivery turned enough to hit off stump, and a position of 165 for three deteriorated to 215 all out. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah provided genuine pace—Rauf’s short balls led to dismissals of Duckett and Sam Curran, while Naseem skidded one through Joe Root’s defence.

Jordan Cox was trapped lbw by another Minhas delivery, Overton offered a simple catch to long-on, and Will Jacks, briefly holding the chase together, was dismissed at midwicket. Minhas completed the victory sequence by trapping Adil Rashid in front and then producing a direct hit to run out Gus Atkinson, ending the match with 11.2 overs remaining.

With the injured Jacob Bethell missing the series, Tom Banton will have another run of games, potentially to complicate the question over England’s opening pair in the format.