Pakistan Beat England by 87 Runs in Rawalpindi ODI Tri-Series Opener
Arafat Minhas scores 59 and takes 6-40 as England drop three catches and lose their last seven wickets for 50 runs
By AXY Sports Desk ·
Key points
- Pakistan beat England by 87 runs in the one-day tri-series opener in Rawalpindi, after making 302 for 9 and bowling England out for 215.
- Arafat Minhas scored 59 and took 6 for 40 with left-arm spin, while Hasan Nawaz made 79.
- England dropped three catches, including Jordan Cox putting down Arafat on 12, and lost their last seven wickets for 50 runs.
- Pakistan have won both of their first two matches and are already on the brink of the final, according to the source report.
- England face Sri Lanka at the same ground on Thursday, with both sides still seeking their first win in the tri-series.
England began their winter tour programme with a sloppy one-day international defeat to Pakistan in Rawalpindi, according to a report from BBC Sport published on 20 October 2026. Pakistan made 302 for 9 in their 50 overs, with Hasan Nawaz scoring 79 and the all-rounder Arafat Minhas making 59. England were bowled out for 215 in reply, a margin of 87 runs. Pakistan have now won both of their matches in the one-day tri-series, while England face Sri Lanka at the same ground on Thursday, with both sides still searching for their first victory in the competition.
The result matters beyond one afternoon in Pakistan. The source report describes this match as the opening fixture of five separate tours to four different countries across three continents, so England are starting an unusually long and varied run of cricket. The England men's team is governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, and its white-ball fixtures are closely watched by fans, sponsors and selectors because they shape form and selection ahead of major tournaments. A tri-series is a competition in which three teams play each other in a round-robin format, and the best-placed teams then contest a final. Losing the first match of such a demanding schedule raises questions about focus, preparation and fielding standards, even though a single game rarely decides a season.
How Pakistan Built a Big Total
Pakistan were asked to bat first, which means they chose the innings order when the captains met at the toss, or were put in by the opposition. The source report says they were 190 for 5 in the 37th over when England's wicketkeeper Jordan Cox dived and put down Arafat on 12. Cox's miss was one of three catches England dropped during the match. In limited-overs cricket, each missed chance can add runs and overs to a batting side, and in this case the dropped catches gave Pakistan the time to accelerate in the closing stages.
Arafat Minhas went on to score a crucial 59, and Hasan Nawaz made a powerful 79. Together they lifted Pakistan to 302 for 9. England's bowler Baker took 3 for 65 from his spell, but the late-innings runs were enough to place Pakistan well beyond the total England had hoped to restrict them to. A one-day international consists of 50 overs per side, and each team has ten wickets. Once a side has lost ten wickets, its innings is over, so the number of wickets in hand at a given stage matters as much as the runs scored.
The total was demanding because of the match context. The source report notes that England were faced with the second-highest score ever needed to win a one-day international at the Rawalpindi Stadium. That made the chase a difficult task before a single ball was bowled in response, and it meant England needed a strong start and then a steady middle order to stay in the match.
England's Chase Starts Brightly Before Wickets Fall
England responded with intent. The source report says they made a rapid start, reaching 91 without loss. That opening stand gave England a realistic route to the target, because a team scoring at a high rate early can afford to lose a wicket or two later if the middle order steadies the innings.
The momentum did not last. Ben Duckett top-edged a pull shot and was out for 45. A top edge happens when the batter makes contact with the top part of the bat, which sends the ball up in the air, often towards the wicketkeeper or a fielder in front of the wicket. Tom Banton was then caught for 57 after shovelling a long hop from Arafat to mid-wicket. A long hop is a short, high-bouncing delivery that is easy to hit in the air, and mid-wicket is the fielding position on the leg side, roughly square of the batter's front leg. Both dismissals came in the same phase of the innings, and England did not regain full control of the scoring after that.
The source report adds that further errors allowed Pakistan back into the match. In a chase, the cumulative effect of such lapses is significant, because each wicket increases the required scoring rate and puts pressure on the batters who remain.
The Late Collapse and Tail Losses
Arafat's influence continued with the ball. The source report says he produced a beautiful delivery to bowl England captain Harry Brook for five. Naseem Shah then got one to keep low and bowled Joe Root for 33. A delivery that keeps low tends to stay under the batter's bat and can be difficult to play cleanly, especially when a bowler is extracting movement off the pitch. Root's dismissal was a significant blow, since he is one of the most experienced batters in the England side.
The innings disintegrated from there. Cox was given out leg before wicket to Arafat, a dismissal in which the batter is judged to have been struck on the pads with the ball on course to hit the stumps. Jamie Overton then holed out, meaning he was caught on the boundary, also off Arafat. England lost their last seven wickets for 50 runs. The innings ended with a calamitous run out of Gus Atkinson, a dismissal that occurs when a fielder breaks the stumps while the batter is out of the crease, often after a mix-up between the two batters running between the wickets. The source report describes the innings as having been spluttered away, and that phrase captures how quickly the chase lost shape once the wickets began to fall.
Arafat finished with 6 for 40 from his left-arm spin. Left-arm spinners bowl with the hand that is on the left side of their body when they release the ball, and the ball typically turns away from a right-handed batter, which can create an angle that is awkward to play. Spin bowling is often used in the middle overs, when pitches can offer grip and turn, and it can be effective against batters who are eager to score quickly.
Why Fielding and Discipline Matter in Limited-Overs Cricket
The defeat was built on mistakes as much as on Pakistan's strengths. England dropped three catches, including the chance that went down when Arafat was on 12, and the dismissals that followed came from balls that were hit in the air or were mis-hit by batters who were under pressure. In a format where each side has a fixed number of overs, the wicket-to-wicket fall of a batting team is a central part of how a match is judged. Dropping a catch is not merely an error on the scorecard; it can change the way a bowler attacks, the shots a batter plays and the total that a side eventually reaches.
It is also worth noting that England's batting was not without merit in the opening stages. The rapid start to the chase suggests the team had the ability to score at a high rate. The problem was the sequence of errors that followed, which turned a competitive chase into a collapse. Analysts often examine the first few overs of a chase, the quality of catching and the choice of shots in the middle overs, because those are the moments that usually decide a close contest. In this match, the source report points to exactly those areas.
For Pakistan, the result was a demonstration of depth. Arafat's contribution with bat and ball gave the home side a balanced performance, and Nawaz provided the power that set up the total. Pakistan's ability to recover after being asked to bat and to finish strongly on a pitch at their home ground will matter in later matches, but the source report shows that the match was decided by England's mistakes as much as by Pakistan's excellence.
What England and Pakistan Face Next
England's next match is against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Stadium on Thursday. The source report says both sides are looking for their first victory of the tri-series, so the game carries weight for both teams. A win would restore momentum after a defeat built on errors. Another loss would increase the pressure on England as they move through a schedule that includes several different countries and conditions.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have won their first two matches and are already on the brink of the final, according to the source report. Their next task is to keep that form going and to convert a strong start into a place in the decider. Observers will watch whether Arafat's all-round contribution can be repeated against different opponents, and whether the middle order can keep providing the late acceleration that proved so important in this match.
For England, the most closely watched areas are likely to be fielding and batting discipline. Those were the aspects that cost the side the most in Rawalpindi, and they are areas where improvement can be made quickly if the players and coaching staff focus on them. The defeat is an early chapter in a long winter, and whether it becomes a minor setback or a warning sign will depend on how the team responds over the coming matches, both in Pakistan and on the tours that follow.
Questions and answers
Who won the England vs Pakistan cricket match in Rawalpindi?
Pakistan won the one-day tri-series opener by 87 runs. They made 302 for 9 in their 50 overs, and England were bowled out for 215 in reply.
How did Arafat Minhas perform for Pakistan?
Arafat Minhas scored 59 with the bat and took 6 for 40 with his left-arm spin. He was dropped on 12 when England wicketkeeper Jordan Cox put down a catch.
When does England play next in the tri-series?
England play Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Stadium on Thursday. Both teams are still looking for their first win in the competition.
Are Pakistan close to the tri-series final?
Yes. Pakistan have won both of their first two matches, and the source report says they are already on the brink of reaching the final.
Topics: England cricket, Pakistan cricket, Rawalpindi Stadium, Arafat Minhas, Harry Brook, One-day international cricket, Tri-series
Sources: BBC Sport