Shadab Khan struck an unbeaten 113 off 96 balls and last-wicket partner Haris Rauf (7no off 19) saw Pakistan home by one wicket in Lahore, as an 89-run last-wicket stand completed an unlikely victory over England. The result leaves England on the brink of elimination from the ODI tri-series final.
England were bowled out for 241 in 46.4 overs. Ben Duckett made 105 off 111 balls, his fifth ODI century, but he was the only real bright spot in a disappointing batting display. Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with figures of 4-46.
England’s bowlers then tore through Pakistan’s top order. Jamie Overton took 3-43 and Liam Dawson returned 2-19, and the hosts slumped to 154-9 after being 74-3.
Shadab and Rauf complete the impossible
All hope appeared lost with one wicket remaining, but Shadab and Rauf refused to give up. Shadab notched his career-best ODI score and his maiden century, and his innings was almost ended when he was given out lbw to Gus Atkinson on 97. He shook hands with the England players while the umpire’s decision stood, but a successful DRS review revealed the faintest of inside edges and kept him at the crease.
Pakistan were then 20 runs away from victory. Rauf produced a picturesque drive down the ground for the winning boundary with 2.5 overs to spare. Shadab hit 12 fours and four sixes during his innings.
The 89-run partnership is the highest last-wicket stand in a successful ODI run chase in history, and it secured Pakistan’s place in the tri-series final.
England’s slow start and recovery
England made a poor start to their innings. In-form opener Jacob Bethell was not part of this match, so the early damage came from Ben Duckett and others falling cheaply. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Banton (4), who chipped to Arafat for his 150th ODI wicket, and then dismissed Root (5) with an uncharacteristically careless slash into the off side.
Debutant Razaullah then produced a brilliant throw to run out Brook, leaving England reeling at 19-3. Despite losing Jordan Cox (6), Duckett led a recovery with a 93-run stand alongside Sam Curran (42 off 52). The partnership took England from 52-4 to 145-5. It was Duckett’s second century in Lahore, following his career-best 165 against Australia in 2025.
Curran’s dismissal started a flurry of wickets for Pakistan. Duckett was out on 105 and England fell from 175-6 to 201-9. Atkinson (36no) then hit three sixes in a 40-run last-wicket stand with debutant Henry Crocombe, which carried England to 241.
Pakistan’s collapse with the bat
England’s bowlers hit back quickly. Atkinson and Crocombe removed Fakhar Zaman (10), Saim Ayub (6) and Babar Azam (10) within the powerplay. Saad Baig (32) led a brief Pakistan rally until Overton ended it, and Hasan Nawaz (15) and Arafat Minhas (1) fell within three balls to leave the hosts at 103-6 after 23.1 overs.
Reaction from the captains
England captain Harry Brook said his side had no reason to feel their bowling had let them down:
“I don’t think it went wrong with the ball, to be honest. I thought we did an exceptional job to restrict them to us nearly winning the game.
“We probably didn’t quite get enough runs on the board, but the effort the boys put in with the ball and in the field was phenomenal.
“Ben Duckett played an exceptional innings – his fifth ODI hundred which came at a good time. Unfortunately we lost a few wickets in quick succession but the way that Gus Atkinson finished the innings off was awesome.”
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi praised the performance of his batters:
“The way Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf finished the game with the bat – I have never seen in my life an innings like that.
“I am really happy as a captain. Starting with the bowling, the team effort was top-drawer. We thought we had a lot of variation in the team so that’s why we brought Shadab in.
“But we need top-order runs, we’re struggling. I hope the next few games we’ll bring that energy.”
What comes next
England must beat Sri Lanka in their final group match in Lahore on Thursday, with first ball scheduled for 8am UK time, to have any chance of reaching the final.
ODI tri-series fixtures and results
- October 18: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs (Rawalpindi)
- October 20: Pakistan beat England by 87 runs (Rawalpindi)
- October 22: Sri Lanka beat England by two wickets (Rawalpindi)
- October 25: Pakistan beat England by one wicket (Lahore)
- October 27 (8am): Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (Lahore)
- October 29 (8am): Sri Lanka vs England (Lahore)
- October 31 (8am): Final (Lahore)