Pakistan took a big step towards reaching the Tri-Series final after thrashing England by 87 runs in Rawalpindi.

Arafat Minhas scored 59 to help Pakistan set a total of 302-9 and then took six wickets as England were bowled out for just 215, with the hosts following up their victory over Sri Lanka in some style.

England won the toss and chose to bowl, and they started well as Gus Atkinson (2-35) dismissed Fakhar Zaman with the very first delivery.

Sonny Baker (3-65) removed Saim Ayub (8) in the powerplay before Will Jacks (1-45) bowled Babar Azam (34), but Hasan Nawaz (79) and Arafat frustrated the England attack before Faheem Ashraf (39) helped propel Pakistan to score they could defend. 

England made a strong start to their chase as Ben Duckett (45) and Tom Banton (57) put on a 91-run opening partnership, but Haris Rauf's (2-32) breakthrough against the former was quickly followed by Arafat's wicket of Banton.

Arafat brilliantly bowled England captain Harry Brook out for just five, and he also got the key wicket of Will Jacks (19) before trapping Adil Rashid lbw from the very next ball and then running out Gus Atkinson to seal the win.

Rawalpindi has a special place in Arafat Minhas' story!  A five-wicket haul on ODI debut here, and now a fifty and six-wicket haul at the same ground  #PAKvENG | #CricketKaJashan | #BackTheBoysInGreen https://t.co/wydkBgUUyJ

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 20, 2026

Statement win from Pakistan

It was a nervy start for Pakistan, and they would have feared the worst when Zaman, who had an ODI batting average of 80 from seven innings at Rawalpindi, was dismissed for a golden duck.

However, their recent revival in the 50-over format has been superb, with the hosts of this Tri-Series now winning nine of their last 12 men’s ODIs, including their last three in a row, while they are undefeated in their last 11 matches at Rawalpindi (W10 T1).

In just his fifth ODI, Arafat scored his first half-century and recorded his second five-wicket haul, managing his best bowling figures in the format (6-40).

He is just the third Pakistan player to score a fifty and take five or more wickets in a single ODI match, after Abdul Razzaq (2000) and Shahid Afridi (three times).

Pakistan will need just one win from their remaining games against England and Sri Lanka to reach the final of this Tri-Series, while England must bounce back fast.