Arafat Minhas' 6 Wickets Spark Collapse as Pakistan defeats England in ODI Tri-Series

RAWALPINDI: A masterclass in spin bowling from young all-rounder Arafat Minhas triggered a catastrophic England batting collapse, steering Pakistan to a commanding victory in the second match of the 2026–27 ODI Tri-Series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Showing immense resilience under pressure, the hosts successfully defended a total of 302 before bundling the visitors out for 215, meaning Pakistan won by 87 runs to maintain their perfect start in the tournament.

Asked to bat first, Pakistan found themselves in a precarious position after a disciplined opening spell from the English seamers. The home side slumped to a worrying 133 for 5. However, the game shifted dramatically when Arafat Minhas (59) and Hasan Nawaz (79) joined the lower-middle order. 

The youngsters anchored the tail with absolute composure, striking boundaries to resurrect the innings. Blending watchful defense with authoritative boundary-hitting, Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas propelled Pakistan past the 300-mark, finishing on 302 for 9 at the end of their 50 overs.

In reply, England’s chase began with absolute authority. Openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett provided a good start in powerplay, dismantling Pakistan’s new-ball attack on a surface that seemed to have flattened out. Banton looked particularly dangerous, finding gaps at will and clearing the infield with crisp timing. Even as Duckett departed, Banton's half-century (57) kept the visitors firmly in the driver’s seat. 

At 91 for no loss in 14 overs, and subsequently cruising past the 100-mark with plenty of wickets in hand, England looked well on course to chase down the target with minimum fuss.

Then came the turning point that turned the Rawalpindi crowd into a frenzy. Introduced into the attack to break the partnership, Minhas completely turned the game on its head. Deploying subtle variations in pace and extracting sharp turn from the surface, the left-arm spinner broke the opening stand and then relentlessly tore through England’s batting spine.

English batsmen struggled to read the drift, playing down the wrong line as wickets tumbled in rapid succession. From a position of absolute control, England fell like a pack of cards, losing their final ten wickets for just over a hundred runs. Arafat Minhas' 6 for 40 completely dismantled the opposition, marking one of the most sensational individual turnarounds in recent ODI history.

England were eventually bundled out for 215 in 38.4 overs, falling comprehensively short of the target. Minhas was universally named Player of the Match for his extraordinary all-round exploits. With two wins from two matches, Pakistan commands the top of the Tri-Series table, while England must quickly regroup before they face Sri Lanka on Thursday at the same venue.