- Shadab Khan orchestrated a stunning record-breaking 113-run rescue act from number eight to rescue Pakistan from a dismal 154 for 9.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi spearheaded a disciplined bowling display, picking up 4 for 46 to restrict England to 241.
- Haris Rauf played a gutsy, unbeaten supporting knock, anchoring an unbroken 89-run final-wicket partnership.
- Pakistan secured a miraculous one-wicket triumph with 17 balls to spare in the thrilling 2026 Tri-Series encounter.
LAHORE — In what will unequivocally go down as one of the most astonishing and spine-chilling encounters in One Day International history, Pakistan pulled off a miraculous one-wicket victory against England at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 242, the Men in Green were staring down the barrel of a humiliating defeat at 154 for 9, before a sensational, record-breaking rescue act turned the stadium into a cauldron of disbelief and jubilation.
The fixture, part of the 2026 Pakistan Tri-Nation Series, had all the makings of a routine English bounce-back early on. Having won the toss and elected to field, Pakistan’s bowling unit put up a stellar disciplined display. Spearheaded by a magnificent spell from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who tore through the batting order to claim 4 for 46 in 8.4 overs, alongside vital contributions from Arafat Minhas (2/26) and Razaullah (2/38), Pakistan bowled England out for 241 in 46.4 overs. Ben Duckett fought a lone, defiant battle for the visitors with a brilliant 105 off 111 balls, supported by Sam Curran (42) and Gus Atkinson (36), but England still felt they had left runs on the board.
What followed, however, defied logic.
As Pakistan began their chase, the innings unraveled into a nightmare. England’s bowling attack, led by Jamie Overton (3/43), Liam Dawson (2/30), and Gus Atkinson (2/62), ruthlessly exploited a sluggish pitch. Wickets tumbled in quick succession, and the scoreboard painted a grim picture for the home fans. When Salman Ali Agha departed for 26, Pakistan’s last recognized batting resistance evaporated. The scoreboard read a disastrous 154 for 9 in the 36th over. Victory was a mathematical anomaly; defeat seemed a matter of mere minutes.
Enter Shadab Khan.
Walking in at number eight with his team completely down and out at 103 for 6, Shadab produced an innings for the ages. With composure, immense grit, and a fearless counter-attack, he shouldered the entire weight of a nation. As partners fell around him, Shadab found an unlikely and heroic ally in number eleven batsman Haris Rauf.
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What unfolded next was a masterclass in nerve. Shadab and Rauf stitched together an astonishing, unbroken 89-run partnership for the final wicket. Shadab played the anchor and the aggressor simultaneously, launching a calculated assault on the English bowlers to orchestrate a breathtaking turnaround. He brought up a sensational, high-pressure century that sent the Lahore crowd into absolute delirium.
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Shadab finished unbeaten with a monumental 113 runs off just 96 deliveries—carving his name into the record books as the highest score by a number-eight batter in ODI history. At the other end, Haris Rauf played the supporting innings of his life, digging deep to face 19 gutsy balls for his 7 runs, fiercely protecting his wicket while feeding the strike back to an inspired Shadab.
With nerves of steel and the scoreboard pressure mounting with every delivery, the equation boiled down to the wire. In the 47th.1 over, as tension reached a fever pitch, Haris Rauf connected cleanly with a glorious straight drive off the bowling to find the boundary, sealing the target at 243 for 9.
The Gaddafi Stadium erupted as the Pakistan players rushed onto the turf to mob Shadab and Rauf. From the jaws of a certain 154-9 collapse, Pakistan had pulled off an unthinkable heist, winning by just one wicket with 17 balls to spare. For England, it was a bitter pill to swallow after failing to defend a target on a track they seemingly controlled for the majority of the match.
For Pakistan, this unforgettable victory does more than just secure their place in the tri-series final; it script a legendary chapter of resilience, proving once again that cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.