Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 113 and last-wicket stand lift Pakistan to one-wicket win over England in Lahore
Shadab Khan produced an unbeaten century as Pakistan recovered from 154/9 to beat England by one wicket in an ODI tri-series match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, October 25. Chasing 242, the hosts reached 243/9 in 47.1 overs after an unbroken 89-run partnership for the 10th wicket between Shadab and Haris Rauf.
England were bowled out for 241 in 46.4 overs earlier in the day, despite a fighting century from Ben Duckett, who scored 105 off 111 balls, striking 10 fours and two sixes. Shaheen Shah Afridi made early inroads to reduce England to 19/3 inside the first five overs, with Tom Banton falling for four, Joe Root for five and captain Harry Brook run out for one. Duckett rebuilt with Sam Curran, the pair adding 93 for the fifth wicket, with Curran contributing 42 off 52 balls, and Duckett reached his fifth ODI century off 104 balls before being dismissed for 105 in the 37th over. Shaheen finished with figures of 4/46.
Pakistan’s chase began poorly as England struck early: Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for 10 off 18 balls by Gus Atkinson, Henry Crocombe removed Saim Ayub for six off 12 deliveries, and Atkinson bowled Babar Azam for 10 off 12 balls, leaving Pakistan 31/3 inside seven overs. The early dismissals handed England control and placed Pakistan under sustained pressure.
Middle-order contributions from Saad Baig (32 off 22) and Salman Ali Agha (26) provided brief resistance, but England continued to take regular wickets and Pakistan slipped to 103/6 and then 154/9. With 88 runs required and only one wicket remaining, the match appeared to be all but over.
Shadab, batting at No. 7, counter-attacked through the tail, scoring an unbeaten 113 off 96 deliveries that included 13 fours and five sixes while Haris Rauf defended at the other end. Their unbroken 89-run partnership for the 10th wicket became the highest 10th-wicket stand in a successful ODI run-chase. Shadab was adjudged lbw on 97, reviewed the decision, and replays showed an inside edge, overturning the verdict; he completed his maiden ODI century and Rauf struck the winning boundary off Henry Crocombe to seal the victory in 47.1 overs.
The result secured Pakistan three wins from three matches and booked their place in the tri-series final, while England suffered a third successive defeat and face the prospect of elimination. Pakistan will next face Sri Lanka in their final league-stage match of the ODI tri-series on Tuesday, October 27, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, ahead of the tri-series final on October 31.
