Shadab Khan produced a career-defining performance in Lahore, leading Pakistan to an improbable one-wicket victory against England in the ongoing ODI tri-series. The all-rounder scored an unbeaten 113 off 96 balls from the No. 8 position, effectively single-handedly steering his team to success after the top order faltered during a chase of 242. This result confirms Pakistan’s place in the final while extending England’s losing streak to three matches. Smashing a century from No.8 to overturn a seemingly easy England win into a sensational one-wicket victory for Pakistan in Lahore, shadab Khan pulled off one of the all-time great ODI heists. He kept picking boundaries almost every over, cracking 113* off 96 to seal Pakistan’s place in the final of the tri-series, on 19 off 28 at one point. In hindsight, pace could have been introduced earlier against Curran.
The match was decided by a record-breaking 89-run partnership for the 10th wicket between Shadab and No. 11 batter Haris Rauf, who contributed 7 runs off 19 deliveries. Rauf hit the winning runs in the 48th over, sparking massive celebrations. This stand is the highest ever for the final wicket in a successful ODI run chase. The victory appeared unlikely after Pakistan lost their ninth wicket in the 34th over, leaving the team struggling to navigate the target. It was a remarkable partnership considering they had lost their ninth wicket in the 34th over: a chase of 242 looked as good as done. By then, Ben Duckett had ambled to 7 off 12. And a 12-run over prompted Shaheen to give himself a second spell, duckett went after Agha. Yet, Pakistan did not have a Duckett to hold the innings together.
Pakistan’s innings had started poorly, mirroring England’s early collapse, as Babar Azam was bowled by a sharp delivery from Gus Atkinson, leaving the team at 31-3. Although Saad Baig provided a brief spark with a quick-fire 32 off 19 balls, the scoring rate dropped significantly afterward. For a span of 15 overs, Pakistan failed to hit a single boundary, as England’s bowlers, particularly Liam Dawson, applied immense pressure by bowling 42 dot balls across his ten-over spell. But both fell to loose shots in consecutive overs.
There was a moment of late tension when Shadab was initially given out lbw to Atkinson with 21 runs still required. However, the decision was overturned by UltraEdge, which confirmed an inside edge. By that time, the players had begun to shake hands, believing the match had already concluded, before the game was correctly resumed. It nearly ended rather anticlimactically when Shadab couldn’t pick a low full toss by Atkinson and was adjudged leg-before with 21 needed.
England’s innings was anchored by Ben Duckett, who made 105 in their total of 241 all out from 46.4 overs. It also handed England their third defeat in a row. Slightly scratchy to start with, Duckett became more assured with his punches and cuts, while also pulling and flicking anything drifting on his body.
England had been reduced to 19/3 early on, with Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi dismissing Tom Banton and Joe Root, while Harry Brook was run out. Sam Curran supported Duckett with 42, but Shaheen, who finished with 4-46, later dismantled the partnership with short-pitched deliveries. Arafat Minhas and Razaullah restricted England’s middle order before Gus Atkinson added late runs to boost the total. With Saim Ayub and Salman Agha sharing an end, Curran eased in, even as Duckett kept ticking along. That, combined with Minhas’s thrifty spell, ensured England didn’t really recover.
Despite the initial collapse and the prolonged struggle in the middle overs, Shadab’s calculated aggression—featuring 13 fours and five sixes—proved the difference. The win marks a significant turnaround for Pakistan after their recent struggles against England. England’s late-innings resistance, including a 40-run final-wicket stand involving debutant Henry Crocombe, ultimately proved insufficient against Shadab’s brilliance. Having failed to defend 429 four days ago, England slipped once again in vastly different circumstances, stunned by Shadab’s late assault. Who took 6 for 40 against the same opposition five days ago, came in to slow the game down further, arafat Minhas.
Brief scores: England 241 all out in 46.4 overs (Ben Duckett 105, Sam Curran 42; Shaheen Afridi 4-46, Razaullah 2-38) lost to Pakistan 243/9 in 47.1 overs (Shadab Khan 113*, Saad Baig 32; Jamie Overton 3-43, Liam Dawson 2-30) by one wicket.
