Pakistan extended their flawless start to the 2026 ODI Tri-Series with an authoritative 87-run thumping of England in Rawalpindi, driven by an exceptional masterclass from young sensation Arafat Minhas.

Opting to field after winning the toss, England’s stand-in captain Harry Brook looked justified early on when Gus Atkinson struck on the very first delivery of the match to dismiss Fakhar Zaman. Saim Ayub departed soon after, and when Babar Azam’s anchoring shift of 34 ended, Pakistan found themselves listing heavily at 133 for 5.

The Dynamic Lower-Order Resurgence

The course of the match shifted decisively on a fiery 78-run partnership between Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas. Nawaz countered brilliantly, slamming a blistering 79 off just 74 balls. Minhas matched his partner’s aggression, hitting his maiden ODI half-century with a spectacular 59 off 58 balls. Backed up by a handy 39 from Faheem Ashraf, the late onslaught dragged Pakistan from deep trouble into a massive total of 302/9.

The English Collapse

England’s chase began with absolute authority. Tom Banton (57) and Ben Duckett (47) attacked early, forging a rapid 91-run opening partnership within 15 overs. The surface looked flat, and the visitors seemed to be cruising toward the target. However, everything changed with the introduction of spin.

Minhas proved totally unplayable, completely turning the game on its head by ripping one through to clean-bowl Harry Brook for 5. From a position of extreme strength, England’s middle and lower orders suffered a catastrophic malfunction against the turning ball, losing their final five wickets for a mere 18 runs. Minhas walked away with astonishing career-best figures of 6 for 40, easily securing the Player of the Match award as England bundled out for 215.