Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 113 seals one-wicket win as Pakistan reach tri-series final

Sunday night at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium produced the kind of finish cricket fans dream about. Nine wickets were down, the target was still distant, and then Shadab Khan played an innings that will be talked about for years.

Shadab turns the match on its head

Chasing England’s 242, Pakistan had slumped to 154 for nine when Haris Rauf walked out to join Shadab Khan at the crease. What followed was extraordinary. Shadab finished unbeaten on 113 from 96 balls, an innings of 13 fours and five sixes — his maiden ODI century, and one that went straight into the record books.

A record last-wicket stand

Shadab and Rauf added an unbeaten 89 for the tenth wicket, the highest tenth-wicket partnership in a successful men’s ODI chase. The previous record of 64 had stood since 1975, set by West Indies pair Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts against Pakistan at Birmingham. Shadab also set a new mark for the highest score by a batter at number eight or below in men’s ODIs, passing the previous best of 100 not out.

Drama until the very end

On 97, Shadab was given out leg-before to Gus Atkinson, only for a review to reveal an inside edge. With nine runs needed, he launched Atkinson over mid-off for six, and Rauf then struck the winning runs off debutant Henry Crocombe — a return catch spilled, the ball racing away for the victory.

England’s innings

Earlier, England had been bowled out for 241 in 49.3 overs. Ben Duckett anchored their innings with 105, while Shaheen Shah Afridi tore through the top order with four wickets for 46. Pakistan reached 243 for nine in 47.1 overs, winning by one wicket and booking their place in the tri-series final.

(Picture: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore — tonight’s venue, file photo)