Rawalpindi: Pakistan’s young all-rounder Arafat Minhas has taken the cricket world by storm with his outstanding all-round performance. In a thrilling tri-series match played in Rawalpindi, Minhas delivered a remarkable performance with both bat and ball, helping Pakistan secure an impressive 87-run victory over England.
Batting first, Minhas played a valuable innings of 59 runs off 58 balls. He then produced a career-best bowling performance, claiming six crucial England wickets for just 40 runs. Thanks to his exceptional contribution, Pakistan posted a challenging total of 302/9 in their allotted overs before bowling England out for 215.
With this remarkable achievement, Arafat Minhas became only the second Pakistani player to score a half-century and claim six wickets in the same ODI match. In Pakistan’s nearly 53-year ODI cricket history, legendary former all-rounder Shahid Afridi is the only other player to have accomplished this feat.
In 2013, Afridi scored a brilliant half-century against the West Indies and followed it up with an extraordinary bowling performance, taking seven wickets for just 12 runs. Following Minhas’s impressive display, cricket fans and social media users have begun comparing him to the legendary Shahid Afridi. However, cricket experts believe it is still too early to draw comparisons between the young all-rounder and Afridi, given the latter’s extensive career achievements.
Chasing a formidable target of 303 runs, England made a promising start. Openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett gave their team a solid foundation with a 120-run opening partnership. Banton scored 57 runs off 53 balls, including five fours and two sixes, while Duckett contributed 45 runs.
However, Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas completely changed the course of the match with a sensational bowling performance. England, who initially appeared to be in a commanding position, suffered a dramatic batting collapse, losing their last nine wickets for just 95 runs. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs.
Minhas’s accurate left-arm spin gave the England batters little opportunity to settle at the crease. His disciplined bowling and ability to take wickets at crucial moments proved decisive in Pakistan’s victory.
Minhas began his impressive spell by dismissing the well-set Tom Banton before removing the dangerous Harry Brook for just five runs. He subsequently dismissed Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, and Jamie Overton cheaply, completing the second five-wicket haul of his career before finishing with six wickets.
Earlier, Pakistan had also struggled during their innings, losing five important wickets with only 133 runs on the scoreboard. However, Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas rescued the team with a crucial 78-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Hasan Nawaz played an important innings of 79 runs, while Minhas contributed a valuable 59. The young all-rounder then added another 72 runs for the seventh wicket alongside Faheem Ashraf, who scored 39 runs. Their contributions helped Pakistan recover from a difficult position and reach an imposing total of 302/9.
Pakistan’s remarkable comeback, combined with Minhas’s exceptional all-round performance, ultimately secured a convincing 87-run victory over England. His outstanding display with both bat and ball highlighted his immense potential and further strengthened his reputation as one of Pakistan’s promising young cricket talents.
