Pakistan produced a remarkable cricket performance to defeat England by one wicket in a One Day International (ODI) match in Lahore on October 25, 2026. The match took place at the Gaddafi Stadium, where the home crowd saw an exciting contest that appeared almost lost for Pakistan. The team had a target of 242 runs, but its hopes fell sharply when it lost nine wickets for just 154 runs. At that point, England looked close to a clear victory. However, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf refused to give up. Their brave effort helped Pakistan reach 243 runs for nine wickets in 47.1 overs and secure a memorable win.
The result was important for more than one reason. Pakistan earned a place in the final of the ODI tri-series, while England suffered its third straight defeat in the tournament. The match also gave cricket fans a record-breaking moment, as Shadab and Rauf shared an unbeaten 89-run stand for the last wicket. Their effort broke a record that had stood for 50 years.
England Set Pakistan a Target of 242 Runs
England batted first and scored 241 runs before its full team lost all ten wickets in 46.4 overs. The total gave Pakistan a target of 242 runs for victory. At first, England faced serious trouble, as Pakistan’s bowlers took early wickets and kept the pressure on the visitors.
Ben Duckett was the main reason England reached a respectable total. He scored 105 runs from 111 balls and kept his team in the contest after the early loss of key batters. His calm approach helped England recover from a poor start. He found useful support from Sam Curran, who made 42 runs from 52 balls. The pair added 93 runs and helped England move past its early problems.
Gus Atkinson also played an important role near the end of the innings. He scored an unbeaten 36 from 28 balls, with three sixes. His effort helped England reach 241 after the team had lost eight wickets for 187 runs. Atkinson and the last batter, Henry Crocombe, added 40 runs for the tenth wicket.
Pakistan’s bowlers had a strong effect on the match. Shaheen Shah Afridi took four wickets for 46 runs, while Arafat Minhas and debutant Razaullah claimed two wickets each. Their efforts kept England from reachin
g a much larger total. Even so, Duckett’s century and the late runs from Atkinson gave England a target that seemed good enough to defend.
Pakistan Lose Early Wickets in the Chase
Pakistan began its chase with a clear goal: score 242 runs before the end of the 50 overs. Yet the hosts soon faced a major test. England’s bowlers found ways to remove key batters, and Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals.
Fakhar Zaman scored 10 runs, while Saim Ayub made six. Babar Azam also fell for 10. These early losses put Pakistan under pressure before the chase could settle. Saad Baig offered some hope with 32 runs, and Salman Ali Agha added 26. Hasan Nawaz scored 15, but the middle order failed to build a long partnership.
England’s bowlers made full use of the situation. Jamie Overton took three wickets for 43 runs, while Liam Dawson claimed two wickets. Atkinson also took two wickets. The bowlers kept the run rate under control and forced Pakistan’s batters to take risks.
Pakistan’s score fell from 74 for three to 103 for six. Soon after, the team lost more wickets. When the score reached 154 for nine in the 34th over, Pakistan had only one batter left after Shadab: fast bowler Haris Rauf. The team still needed 88 runs to win, and just one wicket remained.
For most teams, such a position would mean defeat. England had nine Pakistan wickets and a chance to close out the match. The home side, however, still had Shadab Khan at the crease. His calm mind and bold shot selection soon changed the course of the match.
Shadab Khan Takes Charge
Shadab Khan entered the match at a time when Pakistan needed a special effort. He had come to bat when the score was 103 for six, and the team soon lost its remaining recognised batters. Rather than accept defeat, Shadab took control of the chase and attacked the bowlers when the chance arose.
He scored 113 not out from 96 balls. His remarkable knock included 13 fours and five sixes. He showed patience when he needed to protect his wicket, but he also found the boundary when Pakistan needed quick runs. This mix of care and attack kept the chase alive.
Shadab’s century was the first of his international career. It was also a record-breaking effort. His score of 113 was the highest ever by a batter who came in at number eight or lower in men’s ODI cricket. The record showed how unusual his effort was, as players who bat that low in the order rarely get the chance to score such a large total.
His role was not limited to his own runs. Shadab also had to manage the strike with Haris Rauf at the other end. Since Rauf was the last batter, Shadab had to make sure he faced as many balls as possible. He did this with great care and used his own skill to keep Pakistan close to the target.
Haris Rauf Gives Shadab Vital Support
Haris Rauf’s role in the victory was just as important, even though he scored only seven runs from 19 balls. As the last batter, Rauf had a difficult task. One mistake could have ended the match and handed England the win.
Rauf stayed at the crease and gave Shadab the support he needed. The two players built an unbeaten stand of 89 runs from 80 balls for the tenth wicket. This partnership became the highest last-wicket stand in a successful men’s ODI run chase.
The earlier record was 64 not out, set by West Indies batters Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts against Pakistan at the 1975 Cricket World Cup. That record had lasted for 50 years. Shadab and Rauf passed it with a partnership that turned a near-certain defeat into a famous victory.
Their stand also showed why cricket is never over until the final wicket falls. Shadab supplied most of the runs, while Rauf kept his place at the other end. Both players knew the value of each ball and each run. Their combined effort brought Pakistan within reach of a win that had seemed out of the question only a short time earlier.
A Dramatic Decision Adds to the Tension
The final part of the chase brought even more drama. Shadab was on 97 runs when England’s Gus Atkinson appeared to trap him leg before wicket (LBW). The umpire gave him out, and England’s players began to celebrate what they thought was the end of the match.
Pakistan, however, asked for a review. The decision went to the third umpire, who checked the replay and found that the ball had touched Shadab’s bat. The original decision was overturned, and Shadab was allowed to continue his innings.
The review proved vital. Pakistan still needed 21 runs at that point, and the loss of Shadab’s wicket would almost certainly have ended the chase. Instead, he survived and soon reached his century. He then hit more boundaries and brought the target closer.
This moment became one of the key points of the match. It gave Shadab another chance to complete his remarkable effort and left England with a fresh problem. The visitors had been close to victory, but the review kept Pakistan alive.
Pakistan Reach the Target With 17 Balls Left
Pakistan finally reached 243 for nine in 47.1 overs, with 17 balls left in the match. Haris Rauf sealed the victory with a boundary off the first ball of the 48th over. The Pakistan players and home fans celebrated a result that few had expected after the fall of the ninth wicket.
Shadab remained unbeaten on 113, while Rauf finished on seven not out. Their stand was the heart of the chase and the main reason Pakistan won by one wicket. Shadab was named Player of the Match for his outstanding effort.
The result also gave Pakistan its third straight win in the tri-series. With this victory, the hosts secured their place in the final with a match still to play. The win offered the team a major boost ahead of the title match and gave its supporters a moment to remember.
England Miss a Chance to Secure Victory
For England, the defeat was hard to accept. The team had posted 241 runs, taken nine wickets, and reduced Pakistan to 154 for nine. Its bowlers had done most of the work needed for victory, but they could not remove Shadab or Rauf before the target was reached.
Duckett’s century was a major positive for England. Curran and Atkinson also made useful contributions with the bat, while Overton and Dawson helped put Pakistan under pressure. Yet the team could not finish the job when it had the match in its hands.
The loss was England’s third defeat in three matches in the tri-series. That result left its hopes of a place in the final in serious doubt. Pakistan, by contrast, had reason to celebrate both the result and the manner of its success.
A Match That Will Stay in Cricket History
Pakistan’s win over England was a clear lesson in patience, belief and teamwork. Shadab Khan delivered a career-best international performance with an unbeaten 113, while Haris Rauf gave him the support he needed at the other end. Their record 89-run last-wicket stand broke a record that had stood since the 1975 World Cup.
The match also showed that a team can recover from a very difficult position if its players stay focused and use their chances well. At 154 for nine, Pakistan appeared to have no real path to victory. Yet Shadab’s skill, Rauf’s support and a crucial review helped the hosts complete a famous chase.
For Pakistan, the victory meant a place in the final and a major boost in confidence. For England, it was a painful defeat after a strong position. For cricket fans, it was a reminder of why the sport can produce such remarkable moments. A match that seemed almost over became a record-breaking contest, with Pakistan on the winning side.
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