Arafat Minhas joins elite club after half-century and six-wicket haul against England
Pakistan all-rounder becomes the third Pakistani to score an ODI fifty and take at least five wickets in the same match as hosts secure an 87-run victory.
Arafat Minhas produced a remarkable all-round performance as Pakistan defeated England by 87 runs in the second match of the ODI tri-nation series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 20.
The 21-year-old scored 59 off 58 balls before taking six wickets for 40 runs in 8.4 overs, becoming only the third Pakistani men's player to score a half-century and claim a five-wicket haul in the same One Day International (ODI).
Minhas joined former Pakistan all-rounders Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq in the exclusive group. Afridi achieved the feat three times, while Razzaq did so once.
Minhas helps Pakistan recover from early setbacks
Batting first after England captain Harry Brook elected to field, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman on the first ball of the innings and were reduced to 81 for four in 18.4 overs.
Hasan Nawaz steadied the innings with a crucial 79 off 74 balls, including five fours and four sixes. Saad Baig contributed 35 off 54 deliveries, while Minhas added momentum with his 59, hitting nine boundaries.
Minhas and Hasan shared a 78-run partnership off 74 balls, helping Pakistan rebuild after the early collapse. Faheem Ashraf then scored 39 off 26 deliveries, adding 72 runs with Minhas for the seventh wicket.
Pakistan finished on 302 for nine in their allotted 50 overs, setting England a target of 303 runs.
Six wickets dismantle England's chase
England started strongly, with openers Ben Duckett and Tom Banton putting together 91 runs for the first wicket. Duckett scored 45 off 46 balls, while Banton made 57 off 54 deliveries.
However, Pakistan fought back after Haris Rauf dismissed Duckett. Minhas then removed Banton before dismissing England captain Brook for five in his next over.
England struggled to recover as wickets continued to fall. Joe Root scored 33 and Sam Curran added 27, but neither could guide the visitors towards the target.
Minhas finished with career-best ODI figures of six for 40, helping bowl England out for 215 in 38.4 overs and securing Pakistan's second consecutive win in the tri-series.
A rare achievement in men's ODI cricket
Minhas's performance was only the 25th occasion in men's ODI cricket in which a player scored a half-century and took at least five wickets in the same match.
The young left-arm spin all-rounder also became the first Pakistan men's player to record a five-wicket haul on his ODI debut earlier this year, when he took five for 32 against Australia in Rawalpindi on May 30.
His latest performance further strengthened his credentials as an all-rounder, with Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi praising his talent and expressing hope that he would continue delivering for the team.
