Shadab Khan's 113 not out saves Pakistan from England

Pakistan defeated England by one wicket in Lahore on Sunday, securing a place in the tri-nation series final after an improbable late-innings recovery. Shadab Khan, batting at number eight, remained unbeaten on 113 off 96 balls to rescue the hosts from a dire position. The victory ended a period of poor results for the team and delighted a large crowd at Gaddafi Stadium.

The match began with a strong performance by England’s openers, but they eventually fell to a total of 241 all out in 46.4 overs. Ben Duckett was the primary contributor for the visitors, scoring 105 off 111 balls for his fifth century in One-Day Internationals. After his dismissal, Arafat Minhas and Shaheen Afridi took control of the bowling. Afridi finished with figures of 4 for 46, removing Henry Crocombe with his final wicket.

Pakistan’s chase started poorly. England bowler Jamie Overton took three wickets for 43 runs, while Liam Dawson took two for 19. Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, and Saad Baig all fell cheaply, leaving the hosts at 74 for 3. The situation deteriorated further until the team was reduced to 154 for 9. At that point, many spectators began leaving the stadium, believing England had secured the win.

Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf formed the final partnership. Rauf scored 7 runs from 19 balls, but it was Khan’s aggressive batting that turned the match. His century and Rauf’s seven runs created the highest last-wicket partnership in a successful run chase in One-Day International history. Khan’s innings included a leg-before-wicket dismissal that was overturned on review, keeping him at the crease for the final push.

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez described the innings as one to remember. Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews noted that Khan won the match for Pakistan out of nowhere. Barbadian player Shai Hope called the game absolute cinema, while former West Indies captain Daren Sammy labeled it another thriller following Sri Lanka’s recent victory over England.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi praised the team’s variation and the specific decision to bring in Khan. He acknowledged the team’s struggle with top-order runs but expressed hope for better performances in upcoming matches. Afridi said the team would celebrate the win before returning to normal preparations.

English commentator Nasser Hussain highlighted the change in intent by Khan during the final partnership. He noted that the shift in strategy allowed Khan and Rauf to bring the match back from the brink. Retired English cricketer Chris Woakes also praised the performance, calling a hundred not out at number eight a special achievement.