Arafat Minhas produced a stunning all-round performance as Pakistan beat England by 87 runs in the second one-day international of the tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing 303 for victory, England were bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs. Minhas finished with figures of 6 for 40 in 8.4 overs, completing his second five-wicket haul in ODIs. Earlier in the day, he had scored 59 off 58 balls to lift Pakistan to 302 for 9.
Pakistan beat England: how the chase fell apart
England began the chase with confidence. Openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett put on 91 runs and attacked Pakistan’s new-ball bowlers from the start.
Haris Rauf broke the partnership in the 15th over. Duckett fell for 45 off 46 balls, five runs short of a half-century. Banton carried on and brought up his third ODI fifty before Minhas removed him for 57 off 53 balls, an innings with five fours and two sixes.
Minhas struck again in the 21st over to dismiss England captain Harry Brook for five. Joe Root and Sam Curran then rebuilt briefly and took England past 150, but Naseem Shah bowled Root for 33 off 35 balls. Rauf returned to remove Curran for 27 off 39.
The lower order had no answer to Minhas. He dismissed Jordan Cox for 18, Jamie Overton for one, Will Jacks for 19 and Adil Rashid for a first-ball duck in quick succession. He then ran out Gus Atkinson after a mix-up to seal the win, finishing with 6 for 40. Rauf claimed two wickets and Naseem one.
Hasan Nawaz and Minhas rescue Pakistan’s innings
Pakistan had made a poor start after England won the toss and chose to bowl. Fakhar Zaman fell to the first ball of the innings, and the hosts slipped to 59 for 3 inside 15 overs. Babar Azam made 34 off 52 balls before falling to Will Jacks.
Hasan Nawaz then counterattacked with a fluent 79 off 74 balls, striking five fours and four sixes. It was his second consecutive ODI half-century. He added 51 runs with Saad Baig, who made a determined 35 off 54 balls, and then 78 with Minhas to take Pakistan past 200.
Minhas struck nine boundaries in his 59 off 58 balls before falling to Sonny Baker. Faheem Ashraf added a rapid 39 off 25 balls, and the pair put on 72 for the seventh wicket to push Pakistan past 250. Captain Shaheen Afridi finished unbeaten on 10 as Pakistan closed on 302 for 9.
Baker was England’s most successful bowler with 3 for 65 in nine overs. Atkinson claimed two wickets, while Jacks, Jamie Overton, Rashid and Curran took one each.
Second straight win puts Pakistan on top
The result gave Pakistan their second win in the ODI tri-series, which also features Sri Lanka. Feature Pakistan had earlier reported how Hasan Nawaz and Minhas lifted Pakistan to 302 for 9 after the early collapse. The victory strengthened Pakistan’s position at the top of the table, and the all-round depth shown by the lower middle order will please the team management.
Pakistan opened their campaign after an encouraging build-up to the tri-series, and the squad named for the series has now delivered twice in a row. Sri Lanka, the third team in the competition, announced their squad earlier this month and will face both sides in the coming days.
What next for both sides
Pakistan will look to carry this momentum into their remaining group matches. Their batting depth rescued them after a top-order failure, and the spin of Minhas proved decisive on a wearing Rawalpindi surface.
England, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. Their bowlers let Pakistan escape from 133 for 5, and the batting fell away once the openers departed. With the series moving fast, they cannot afford another middle-order collapse. Elsewhere in international cricket, Australia thumped New Zealand to clinch their T20I series.
What was the result of the Pakistan vs England 2nd ODI?
Pakistan won by 87 runs, bowling England out for 215 after posting 302 for 9 at Rawalpindi.
Who starred for Pakistan?
Arafat Minhas, with 59 off 58 balls and 6 for 40. Hasan Nawaz also scored 79 off 74 balls.
Where was the match played?
At the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 20, 2026.
Who leads the tri-series?
Pakistan, with two wins from two matches in the series also featuring Sri Lanka.
