Pakistan turned a shaky start into a statement total on Tuesday, posting 302/9 against England in the second match of the ODI Tri-Series at Rawalpindi. The hosts were under pressure early after losing key batters cheaply, but a spirited middle-order recovery and a late burst of scoring changed the tone of the innings completely.
Asked to bat first, Pakistan looked in trouble when Fakhar Zaman fell for a golden duck and Babar Azam managed only 34 off 52 balls. Salman Agha, who had starred in the previous match, also departed inside the first 20 overs, leaving the home side searching for stability after a top-order wobble.
Pakistan’s middle order sparks the turnaround
The reply came from Saad Baig and Hasan Nawaz, who stitched together a vital 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket after Pakistan slipped to 81/4. The stand gave the innings a much-needed reset and allowed Pakistan to rebuild rather than collapse further.
Hasan Nawaz was the standout in the recovery phase, striking a composed 79 before falling with 10 overs still to go. His innings kept England from fully tightening their grip, and it gave Pakistan a platform to launch into the final overs with intent.
Arafat and Faheem finish with authority
That late push arrived through Arafat Minhas and Faheem Ashraf, who accelerated sharply as the innings entered its final phase. Arafat made 59 off 58 balls, while Faheem added a brisk 39 off 26 deliveries, helping Pakistan score 91 runs in the last 10 overs.
The surge carried Pakistan to 302/9, a total that felt far more imposing after the early damage. It was not just a recovery; it was an innings that steadily shifted from survival to control, then from control to dominance in the closing overs.
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 302/9 | 50 overs |
| England | Chasing target | |
A 21-year-old mark finally falls
The total carried extra significance because it became Pakistan’s third-highest ODI innings total against England at home. It also went beyond their previous best against England in Rawalpindi, and overtook the 285 all out they recorded in Lahore in 2005.
That 2005 total had stood for 21 years as one of the key home benchmarks against England. On Tuesday, Pakistan finally moved past it, underlining how valuable the late overs were in reshaping the innings and rewriting a long-standing mark.
“Once Pakistan got through that middle-order pressure, the innings opened up in a big way,” was the kind of assessment that fit the momentum swing on the day.
England start well, but the finish belongs to Pakistan
England had the early advantage after electing to bowl and briefly looked in control. But once Pakistan’s lower middle order settled in, the visitors struggled to contain the flow of runs, especially as the final 10 overs brought the innings to life.
This was also England’s first ODI tour of Pakistan since 2005, adding a historic layer to the contest. Pakistan’s total now puts them closer to their highest home ODI mark against England, 353/6 in Karachi, also set in 2005.
For Pakistan, the number on the board is more than just a scoreline. It is proof that even after early setbacks, the batting unit can still produce a formidable total when the middle order and finishers click at the right time.
With the tri-series still unfolding, Pakistan have sent a clear message: if the top order stumbles, the innings is not necessarily lost. On this occasion, resilience, timing and late acceleration combined to produce a total that could shape the rest of the series.
