Pakistan left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas bowled England out for 215 in 39 overs, giving the hosts a convincing 87-run victory in the first match of the ODI tri-series in Pakistan on Wednesday, October 21.
Arafat Minhas appeared at the crease with Pakistan on 133 for 5. His 59 off 58 balls helped the hosts regroup and reach 302 for nine. The 21-year-old then returned a career-best six wickets for 40 runs to eliminate England well short of their target, giving Pakistan its second consecutive win in the tri-series after defeating Sri Lanka.
England’s openers, Tom Banton and Ben Duckett, laid a solid foundation with a 91-run partnership until Banton went for 57, taking out the midwicket fielder off Arafat’s bowling in a dismissal attributed to fortune. Arafat then bowled Harry Brook with a delivery that gripped and spun beyond the outside edge, hitting the stumps, before dismissing four more lower-order batsmen. He finished the innings with a direct hit run-out. As England’s chase unraveled, off-spinner Saim Ayub joined Arafat in managing the situation.
England white-ball skipper Brook said that his team withdrew into their shells against spin after Banton and Duckett lay the groundwork.
How did England’s batting collapse occur?
England fell behind Pakistan’s spin attack after a 91-run opening stand. Arafat Minhas and Saim Ayub put sustained pressure in the middle overs, and England were unable to form the partnerships required to sustain a chase of 303. Brook went over the batting breakdown in detail.
In the lead-up to the series, Kevin Pietersen, England’s specialized mentor, gave them a spin tutorial, emphasizing the need of rotating the strike. Brook’s comments indicate that the balance between rotation and boundary-hitting remained a struggle for his team in the field.
What has Brook said about Arafat Minhas?
Arafat Minhas vcareer-best performance came in just his fifth ODI appearance. Despite the element of fate in his first wicket, the 21-year-old showed clear technique in dismissing Brook and demolishing the lower order, finishing with six for 40 and a direct-hit run-out to close the session. Brook was kind in his evaluation of the young spinner.
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Brook gathered his players for the October 22 encounter against Sri Lanka, which now had larger stakes. England has won three of the three ODI series they have played in 2026, and the captain expects his team to regain that form and put this defeat behind them.
Kavya Sharma specializes in cricket news, tournament previews, player analysis, and post-match reviews. She combines statistics with tactical observations to provide informative and easy-to-read articles.
