Shadab’s unbeaten century carries Pakistan to tri-series final with one-wicket win over England
LAHORE: What unfolded at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday evening will be talked about for years. Pakistan snatched a one-wicket win over England in the ODI tri-series and booked their place in the final on October 31 — and it was Shadab Khan, all of it, who turned a lost cause into one of the great escapes.
England had posted 241 all out in 46.4 overs, built around Ben Duckett’s 105 and Sam Curran’s 42. Shaheen Shah Afridi had ripped through the top order for 4 for 46, leaving the visitors 19 for 3 inside five overs, but the Duckett-Curran stand of 93 dragged England to something defendable. On a slow Lahore surface, it looked more than enough.
Nine down for 154 — then the impossible
Chasing 242, Pakistan’s innings fell apart in stages. Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam were all gone with 31 on the board. Saad Baig counter-punched with 32 off 22 balls, but by the end of the 34th over Pakistan were 154 for 9, still 88 short, and most of the sparse crowd had already accepted defeat.
Shadab refused to. He had walked in at 103 for 6 and quietly rebuilt, and with Haris Rauf holding firm at the other end — three runs off 18 balls, wicket intact — the pair stitched together an unbeaten 89 for the last wicket. It is now the highest tenth-wicket stand in a successful ODI chase, beating the old mark of 64.
The review that changed everything
The night’s wildest moment came with 27 still needed. Shadab swept Gus Atkinson for six over fine leg, then was given out leg-before off the very next ball. England celebrated; the broadcast even flashed an England win. Shadab reviewed almost out of duty — and UltraEdge found the faintest spike as ball passed bat. The decision was overturned, disbelief turned to delight, and Shadab went on to his maiden ODI hundred off 91 balls, becoming only the third batter to score an ODI century batting at No. 8 or lower.
He finished on 113 not out off 96 balls, with 13 fours and five sixes, and it was Haris who struck the winning blow, drilling debutant Henry Crocombe straight down the ground for four to take Pakistan to 243 for 9 in 47.1 overs. England left with another agonising near-miss; Pakistan left with a final to prepare for.
