NEW DELHI: For a few moments at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, it seemed Pakistan had lost the match. England’s players had started celebrating, handshakes were exchanged and Shadab Khan looked devastated. But a review changed everything, and the hosts went on to pull off a stunning one-wicket victory in the ODI tri-series on Sunday.Pakistan were chasing 242 and had slipped to 154-9. With just one wicket left, defeat looked certain. Then Shadab and Haris Rauf produced a remarkable fightback, taking Pakistan home and securing their place in the final.Shadab remained unbeaten on 113, but his innings had one moment that could have ended the contest before its dramatic finish.
Shadab walks away, but the review saves Pakistan
The drama unfolded in the 45th over when Gus Atkinson trapped Shadab on the pads. The bowler appealed, and the umpire raised his finger. Shadab appeared to accept his fate and began walking away.England’s players thought they had won. Some started shaking hands, while the television briefly flashed a result showing England winning by 20 runs.Shadab was clearly upset. He struck his bat against the ground and went down on his haunches. Joe Root and Harry Brook approached him to shake hands as other England players began celebrating.But Shadab decided to review the decision, and the replays changed the mood inside the stadium. UltraEdge showed a spike, confirming that the ball had touched his bat before hitting his pad.The decision was overturned, and the crowd erupted. Shadab was given another chance to finish the match, while England’s players looked stunned. Rauf, who had put his hand on his head during the tense moment, also watched in disbelief.Shadab responded with a fist pump. Pakistan’s hopes were alive again, and the match continued.
Shadab and Rauf pull off an incredible comeback
When Rauf joined Shadab in the 34th over, Pakistan were struggling at 154-9. England needed only one more wicket, but the last pair refused to surrender.Shadab took responsibility for the chase, scoring quickly and protecting Rauf from facing too many deliveries. He kept most of the strike and continued to put pressure on England’s bowlers.Playing his first match of the tournament, Shadab smashed 113 not out off 96 balls, with 12 fours and five sixes. Rauf supported him with an unbeaten seven off 19 deliveries.Their 89-run partnership was the highest for the 10th wicket in a successful ODI run chase.Shadab brought up his maiden ODI century with a late cut off Atkinson and followed it with a six over long-off. Pakistan needed only three runs from the final three overs when Rauf struck the winning boundary off Henry Crocombe.Pakistan finished on 243-9 in 47.1 overs to complete a victory few would have expected when their ninth wicket fell.
Afridi strikes early as England are bowled out for 241
Earlier, England were dismissed for 241 in 46.4 overs after being asked to bat first. Ben Duckett top-scored with 105 off 111 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes.Shaheen Shah Afridi put England under pressure from the start. He dismissed Tom Banton in the first over and Joe Root in the third, before Rauf removed Jordan Cox. England were soon reduced to 52-4.Duckett and Sam Curran then gave the innings some stability, adding 93 runs for the fifth wicket. Curran scored 42 off 52 balls before Afridi dismissed him, completing his third wicket of the innings.Afridi finished with 4-46 as England continued to lose wickets. They slipped to 201-9 before Gus Atkinson, who remained unbeaten on 36, helped them reach 241.Despite Duckett’s century and Atkinson’s late contribution, England’s total was not enough to stop Pakistan’s remarkable chase.
England come close, but Pakistan survive
Pakistan also struggled with the bat. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam scored 10 each, while Saim Ayub managed only six. Jamie Overton took two catches in the slips to dismiss Fakhar and Saim, while Atkinson bowled Babar.Saad Baig added a quick 32 off 22 balls, and Salman Ali Agha scored 26. But England continued to take wickets, with Overton finishing with 3-43 and Liam Dawson claiming 2-30.At 154-9, England were firmly in control. However, Shadab’s counter-attack, Rauf’s support and the crucial review turned the match on its head.
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Pakistan book a place in the final
The victory secured Pakistan’s place in the ODI tri-series final. They will play Sri Lanka in their last league match on Tuesday, having beaten them by 37 runs in the opening game.England, meanwhile, suffered their third consecutive defeat. They had earlier lost to Pakistan by 87 runs and then suffered a heartbreaking loss against Sri Lanka, who chased down 430 with one ball remaining.