LAHORE, Oct 25: Pakistan produced a remarkable comeback to defeat England by one wicket in the fourth match of the ODI tri series at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, with Shadab Khan delivering a career defining performance under pressure.
Chasing a target of 242, Pakistan appeared destined for defeat after losing nine wickets for 154 runs. However, Shadab remained unbeaten on 113 from 96 deliveries and combined with fast bowler Haris Rauf to guide the hosts home with 17 balls remaining.
Their unbeaten 89-run partnership for the tenth wicket became the highest last-wicket stand in a successful men’s ODI run chase, surpassing the previous record of 64 runs set by West Indies against Pakistan during the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975.
Shadab’s innings included 13 boundaries and five sixes, making it the highest individual score by a batter coming in at number eight or lower in men’s ODI cricket. The victory also secured Pakistan’s place in the tri-series final, while England suffered their third consecutive defeat in the competition.
England Recover After Early Setbacks
Pakistan won the toss and elected to field, a decision that initially appeared to pay off as England lost wickets early in their innings.
Shaheen Shah Afridi made an immediate impact by dismissing Tom Banton in the opening over. Joe Root also fell to the left-arm pacer, while captain Harry Brook was run out, leaving England struggling at 19 for three.
Jordan Cox departed soon afterwards, increasing the pressure on the visitors. England needed a substantial partnership to rebuild their innings and prevent Pakistan from taking complete control.
Ben Duckett responded with a determined century, scoring 105 runs from 111 balls. His innings provided the stability England desperately needed after their top order collapsed.
Duckett found valuable support from Sam Curran, who scored 42 from 52 deliveries. The pair added 93 runs, helping England recover and rebuild the innings after the early damage.
Their partnership gave the visitors a platform from which to challenge Pakistan’s bowlers. Duckett continued to accumulate runs, combining measured stroke play with timely boundaries to reach three figures.
Pakistan, however, managed to break the partnership and regain momentum. Arafat Minhas dismissed Duckett, while Razaullah contributed with two wickets as England’s middle and lower order struggled to sustain the recovery.
Gus Atkinson offered late resistance with an unbeaten 36 from 28 balls, including three sixes. His contribution helped England reach 241 before being dismissed in 46.4 overs.
Shaheen finished with four wickets, while Arafat and Razaullah claimed two apiece. Pakistan’s attack had prevented England from converting Duckett’s century into a substantially larger total.
Pakistan’s Top Order Collapses
The hosts began their chase with the expectation of completing a manageable target, but England’s bowlers quickly changed the direction of the match.
Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam were dismissed early, leaving Pakistan at 31 for three. The top-order collapse put immediate pressure on the middle order and raised the possibility of an upset.
Saad Baig attempted to counterattack, scoring 32 from 22 deliveries with seven boundaries. His aggressive approach briefly helped Pakistan regain momentum, but England continued to take wickets at important moments.
Salman Ali Agha contributed 26, while Hasan Nawaz made 15. Neither batter could establish the substantial partnership required to stabilise the chase.
Liam Dawson and Jamie Overton proved particularly effective in restricting Pakistan’s progress. As wickets continued to fall, the required target became increasingly difficult to achieve.
When Pakistan lost its ninth wicket at 154 in 33.5 overs, the hosts still needed 88 runs. England appeared to have secured a decisive advantage, with only one recognised batter remaining at the crease.
Shadab, however, refused to surrender. He adjusted his approach to protect the lower order partner while continuing to attack whenever scoring opportunities emerged.
Shadab and Rauf Turn the Match Around
Shadab’s innings developed from a determined effort to remain at the crease into an extraordinary counterattack. He combined sensible strike rotation with powerful hitting, ensuring that Pakistan continued to make progress despite the absence of recognised batters.
Rauf’s arrival at the crease brought a fresh challenge. As a fast bowler, his primary task was to remain alongside Shadab and provide support at the non-striker’s end.
The pair built their partnership carefully before increasing the pressure on England’s bowlers. Shadab took responsibility for the majority of the scoring, finding boundaries at crucial moments and preventing the required rate from becoming unmanageable.
Their stand of 89 runs came from 80 balls and remained unbroken until Pakistan reached 243 for nine in 47.1 overs.
The partnership was significant not only because it secured victory but also because it surpassed a long-standing record for successful ODI chases. The previous benchmark had been set by West Indies batters Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts against Pakistan in 1975.
Shadab’s 113 not out also established a new record for the highest individual ODI score by a batter entering at number eight or lower.
Rauf finished unbeaten on seven from 19 balls and struck the winning boundary, completing one of the most remarkable finishes of the tournament.
Review Gives Shadab a Second Chance
The closing stages contained another dramatic moment when Shadab was given out leg-before-wicket off Atkinson with Pakistan still needing 21 runs.
For a brief period, England appeared to have completed the dismissal that would end the contest. However, Pakistan reviewed the decision, and the replay showed an inside edge from Shadab’s bat.
The decision was overturned, allowing the batter to continue his innings. Shadab responded by attacking Atkinson and moving closer to his century and the target.
The incident highlighted how narrow the margin between victory and defeat had become. Had the decision stood, Pakistan’s remaining hopes would have depended on its final batter, with the team still short of the target.
Instead, Shadab maintained his composure and completed his maiden international century. His performance demonstrated the value of concentration and adaptability in a situation where one mistake could have ended the chase.
Pakistan Secure Final Berth as England Struggle
The result extended Pakistan’s winning run in the tri-series to three matches and confirmed their place in the final. The hosts had recovered from a precarious position through a combination of individual brilliance and effective partnership building.
England, meanwhile, were left to reflect on another disappointing result. Despite Duckett’s century and an impressive effort from their bowlers during the chase, they could not close out a match that had appeared firmly in their control.
The defeat marked England’s third loss in as many matches, leaving their campaign in a difficult position.
For Pakistan, Shadab’s performance will be remembered as the defining moment of the contest. His century, supported by Rauf’s determination, transformed an almost certain defeat into a historic victory.
The match also demonstrated the unpredictable nature of ODI cricket. England had recovered from early setbacks to post a competitive score, then reduced Pakistan to 154 for nine. Yet the hosts found a way to win through an exceptional final-wicket partnership.
Pakistan’s one-wicket triumph in Lahore will therefore stand out as one of the tournament’s most dramatic matches, with Shadab producing a performance that combined individual achievement with a record-breaking team result.