England’s winter began with a whimper in Rawalpindi as a sloppy performance saw them slump to an 87-run defeat against Pakistan in the opening ODI of the tri-series. Chasing 303 to win, England were bowled out for just 215 in 38.4 overs, with Arafat Minhas starring for the hosts with a brilliant all-round display.
Pakistan vs England ODI, Rawalpindi (Credits: BBC)
Arafat Minhas Runs the Show
The 23-year-old all-rounder was the difference between the sides. Arafat first lifted Pakistan from 190-5 with a crucial 59 off 58 balls, dropped on 12 by wicketkeeper Jordan Cox, one of three catches England spilled. Alongside a powerful 79 off 74 from Hasan Nawaz, he carried Pakistan to 302-9 in their 50 overs.
Then, with the ball, Arafat produced magic under the Rawalpindi lights. His 6-40 with left-arm spin is the best ODI figures by a Pakistan spinner against England, bamboozling a batting lineup that simply never got going in the chase.
England’s Chase Falls Apart
England’s reply started promisingly at 91-0, with Tom Banton making 57 off 53. But Banton shovelled an Arafat long hop to mid-wicket, Ben Duckett top-edged a pull for 45, and the collapse was on. Arafat bowled captain Harry Brook for 5, Naseem Shah kept one low to remove Joe Root for 33, and when Cox fell lbw and Jamie Overton holed out, both to Arafat, England were floored. They lost their last seven wickets for 50 runs, capped by a calamitous run-out of Gus Atkinson, fittingly completed by Arafat.
What It Means
Pakistan now have two wins from two in the tri-series and are already on the brink of the final, while England next face Sri Lanka at the same ground on Thursday, with both sides seeking their first victory. It was England’s first ODI in Pakistan since 2005 and their first tri-series ODI since 2015.
This was also the start of a marathon winter: five separate tours across four countries on three continents, including two trips to Australia and Test tours of South Africa and Bangladesh, building toward the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa next year. England were without first-choice players Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell, and to their credit have won their previous three ODI series this year. But in Rawalpindi, dropped catches and a wasted chase handed the game to Pakistan, who look a vastly different, far more dangerous proposition at home in this format.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
