Match

Pakistan won by 1 wkt

• England: 241/10 (46.4 overs)
• Pakistan: 243/9 (47.1 overs)

England - 241/10 (46.4 overs)

Extras: 6

Pakistan - 243/9 (47.1 overs)

Extras: 11

Commentary

• With three wins in three matches, Pakistan have booked their place in the tri-series final. We've witnessed two unforgettable games on the trot. Let's see what else is in store for us. The next match is between Pakistan and Sri Lanka here in Lahore on Tuesday (27th October). Can't wait for that. Until next time, it's goodbye from Abhinand Raghavendran, Akshay Maanay, Kumar Abhisekh Das, Sreenivas and Praveen.
• Pakistan were brilliant with the ball and sharp in the field earlier today. Shaheen Afridi struck twice upfront, returned to break a 93-run partnership, and then picked up the final wicket of the innings to finish with four wickets. Razaullah bowled with plenty of energy, claiming two wickets on debut after producing a bullet throw to effect a run-out. Arafat Minhas, introduced late into the attack, dismissed the left-handed centurion Ben Duckett and added another wicket while keeping things tight. The opening batters failed once again (their scores this tri-series - 16, 7, 0, 8, 10 and 6). The middle order couldn't bail them out either, as England's bowlers squeezed the flow of runs. But then came Shadab Khan, who turned it around spectacularly to pull one of the greatest hesists in the history of ODI cricket with Haris Rauf as his partner.
• Can England recover from this blow? After failing to defend 429 in the previous match, they managed just 241 on a slightly slower surface today. It looked like a below-par total, but their bowlers fought hard and came agonisingly close to pulling off a win before Shadab Khan’s masterclass snatched it away from them. Three losses in three matches, and their hopes are hanging by a thread in this tri-series. There were positives for England - Duckett’s century, Atkinson’s impressive spell with the new ball, Overton’s lion-hearted effort despite a knee problem, and Dawson’s miserly spell, during which he dismissed two in-form batters. Their death bowling, however, remains a main area of concern that needs to be addressed.
• Shaheen Afridi: [On back-to-back wins against England and Shadab Khan’s match-winning innings] I think I can't say anything. Shadab and Haris, the way they finished the game, 89 runs partnership, 90-something. But I never saw in my career, even since I was a kid as well, I never see in my life (an) innings like that. So really happy as a captain as well. And even starting with the bowling, the team effort was top notch. [On why Arafat Minhas wasn't introduced earlier than the 29th over] Look, I know the two left-handers was batting, so I don't want to cost him that time. So Shadab was already (there), we pick him. We thought we had a lot of bowling variation in the team, so that's why we bring Shadab and then Salman Ali Agha. So that's why we brought him(Arafat) a little bit late. So I think he was good, he bowled well. [On Razaullah's contribution with the ball and in the field] Yeah, for Razaullah, we just want like his pace and also that bouncers, like he run out the way he throw for Harry Brook, that wicket is important for us, and he did for us very well. [On if there will be changes in the top-order for the next game] Yeah, might be. We need for top-order some runs. We're struggling. We need that attacking game in powerplay. I hope in the next few games we will bring that energy in the team. [On the celebrations after the win] I think tonight we'll be like celebrating, and tomorrow back to normal routine.
• Harry Brook: [On where things went wrong with the ball after reducing Pakistan to 154/9] No, I don't think we went wrong with the ball, to be honest. I thought we did an exceptional job to restrict them to, well, to us nearly winning the game. Obviously we probably didn't quite get enough runs on the board, but the effort that the boys put with the ball and in the field was absolutely phenomenal. I couldn't have asked for any more. [On their batting performance] Yeah, definitely. Duckey's played (an) exceptional innings. Fifth ODI hundred, which came at a good time, so he played really well. And again that partnership that him and Sam (Curran) had together put us in a decent position to try and kick on from there. Unfortunately we lost a couple more wickets in quick succession, but the way that Gus (Atkinson) finished the innings off was awesome. [On their chances of qualifying for the final] Yeah, we've obviously got to hope that Pakistan beat Sri Lanka, but we've got to just focus on what we can do against Sri Lanka, really, and try and beat them by a big margin, I think.
• Shadab Khan | Player of the Match: Obviously, you only enjoy an innings when the team wins. So, I'm very happy that I played that innings and we won the match. I think Haris deserves more credit than me because, obviously, tailenders at that position are always keen to hit sixes. The way I was guiding him, or he was guiding me, we managed to put together a good partnership. [On the conversation between himself and Haris during their partnership] He was explaining things to me more than I was explaining things to him. He was saying things along the way that I don't think we can reveal on live TV. I think we had a lot of fun moments and really enjoyed ourselves. We were talking more about other things than cricket. [On what was going through his mind at 154/9] Obviously, I think you just go with the flow. When I made my comeback in the last series, there was an innings against Australia where I kept going until the end, but I couldn't win the match. So the idea was to keep believing. The conditions were a little different today, with dew coming in. I also felt their bowling was under a bit of pressure, given how things had gone in the previous match. I thought that if we could put them under pressure, they might end up bowling in areas that suited my game.
• When Razaullah fell in the 34th over, Pakistan needed another 88 runs to win with just one wicket in hand. Some fans had already started leaving the ground and, let's be honest, most of us thought an England win was all but certain. But one man refused to give up. Shadab Khan! Coming in at No. 8, he broke Pakistan's boundary-drought, which had lasted 15.4 overs. He decided to farm the strike as soon as Haris Rauf arrived at the crease. Mind you, England’s last pair had added 40 runs, while Pakistan’s final pair needed to score more than twice that to pull off an improbable win. Shadab even played out a maiden over against Dawson. What followed was simply extraordinary, no adjective could do justice to it. From the 36th to the 42nd over, Shadab hit at least one boundary in every over while ensuring Rauf faced no more than two balls per over. When Shadab was on 97, another drama unfolded. He was given out lbw and everyone thought the game was over. But, to everyone’s surprise, UltraEdge picked up a faint inside edge, overturning the decision. Perhaps it was a message from the cricketing gods that this was destined to be Shadab’s day. While tempers flared around him, Shadab remained calm, brought up his maiden international century, and kept finding the boundary with remarkable ease.
• 21:02 Local Time, 16:02 GMT, 21:32 IST: Haris Rauf celebrates wildly after smashing the winning boundary, spreading his arms, throwing his bat away and pumping his fist several times. He's understandably pumped. Shadab Khan jumps on him for a hug just as the Pakistani substitutes rush in to join the celebrations. Rauf had refrained from playing an attacking shot until that moment, before unleashing a fierce hit past the bowler to seal the win for Pakistan. The Pakistan camp erupts in hugs and smiles, while Harry Brook has a poker face. Wonder what must be going through his mind, following two crazy run-chases against his side. Players from both teams exchange handshakes but there's a tense moment between Rauf and Will Jacks. The two share a lengthy, seemingly heated exchange again (continuation of 45.6?) before shaking their heads and walking away in opposite directions.
• 47.1: H Crocombe to Haris Rauf, FOUR, Haris Rauf hits the winning runs and Pakistan have pulled it off! This has to be one of the craziest turnarounds in the history of ODI cricket. 154/9 to 243/9 (89* runs in 80 balls). Highest 10th wicket partnership in a successful run-chase in ODIs. Coming to the ball, it was overpitched by Crocombe and Rauf cleared his front leg to drill it to the right of the bowler. Crocombe stuck his right hand out but the ball bulleted away to the fence after eluding him
• Henry Crocombe [6.0-0-53-1] is back into the attack
• 3 runs | 3 overs. England are penalised for slow over-rate. An extra fielder has to be inside the circle now but that won't matter much for England. There are two slips in place. The field is up to stop the single. England feel this is their chance to get Rauf. Debutant Crocombe has been backed to bowl this important over. Here we go..
• 46.6: Gus Atkinson to Shadab Khan, SIX, slot ball and that's been dispatched! Shadab Khan gets under it and tonks it over long-off by hitting through the line. Pakistan are just three runs away from winning this. This is unbelievable! The field was up for the final ball to stop the single and Shadab backed himself to clear the rope. He knew Atkinson was going for the yorker, he missed and the ball disappeared over the rope
• 46.5: Gus Atkinson to Shadab Khan, no run, full toss close to off, Shadab pushes it to midwicket and Haris Rauf gets sent back as the throw comes to the bowler's end. Shadab gestures - 'what are you doing?' and Rauf sees the funny side of it
• 46.4: Gus Atkinson to Shadab Khan, no run, another full toss but Atkinson gets away as Shadab flicks it straight square leg. Rauf was starting to go for the single but Shadab quickly sends him back. The throw comes to the non-striker's end but Rauf is in
• 46.3: Gus Atkinson to Shadab Khan, FOUR, Shadab continues to march on. Back to back fours for him. Atkinson is going for the yorker and is not getting it right. This ends up as a low full toss and Shadab whips it away in square on the leg-side. The fielder was inside the ring and Shadab beat him comfortably, no one in the deep to stop that. Just 9 needed now..
• 46.2: Gus Atkinson to Shadab Khan, FOUR, maiden international hundred for Shadab Khan! This is absolutely crazy stuff. Out of nowhere, he's played a blinder. It's a yorker outside off and Shadab Khan squeezes it towards short third, there's a fumble and the ball runs away. He knows that he still has a job to do - no raise of the bat or any celebration. The Pakistan team are on their feet applauding and so are the rest of the people at the Gaddafi Stadium. He's looking super calm and composed, that's a great sign if you're in the Pakistan camp. Belatedly, he raises both his hands with the bat in his right hand to acknowledge the applause
• 46.1: Gus Atkinson to Haris Rauf, 1 run, full and on the stumps, knocked towards mid-on and the batters set off. Banton is off-balance as he back-hand flicks and misses the target at the non-striker's end. There was no pace on it as well and Rauf gives the strike to Shadab
• 45.6: Sam Curran to Shadab Khan, no run, 123.1kph, bouncer, Shadab Khan lets it be. Not wided, Shadab Khan isn't happy, he keeps looking at the square leg umpire for a signal but gets nothing. Oh, meanwhile, Haris Rauf loses his cool and has a barrage of words with Will Jacks. Sharfuddoula had to intervene, so does Root, he has a calming chat with Rauf. He walked towards Jacks and both were suggesting something, it might be about Rauf backing up at the non-striker's end. The game is getting close, tempers are flying and adding to the drama
• 45.5: Sam Curran to Haris Rauf, 1 run, two slips and a short leg in place. 130.8kph, pitched up delivery, Haris Rauf drives to the right of sweeper cover and the call is for two. But Rauf slips as he completes the run and he's in a bit of pain. He's fine to resume though
• 45.4: Sam Curran to Shadab Khan, 1 run, 129.3kph, pitched up, driven to mid-off for a quick single. The throw comes to the keeper's end and Jordan Cox dives to his right to make a crucial stop. There was no one backing up. Shadab moves to 99