Shadab Khan’s Historic Century Powers Pakistan to Thrilling ODI Win Over England

Pakistan produced a remarkable performance against England in the 2026 Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, securing a thrilling one-wicket victory at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on October 25. The match delivered an extraordinary finish as Shadab Khan rescued Pakistan from a precarious position with a magnificent unbeaten century.

Chasing a target of 242, Pakistan appeared to be heading towards defeat after losing nine wickets for 154 runs. Shadab, however, held his nerve under pressure and found an unlikely partner in Haris Rauf. Their remarkable last-wicket stand turned a difficult chase into a memorable victory, taking Pakistan to 243 for nine in 47.1 overs.

England had earlier been bowled out for 241 in 46.4 overs, despite Ben Duckett's impressive century. Shaheen Shah Afridi led Pakistan's bowling attack with four wickets, giving the hosts a realistic target to pursue.

The result was significant beyond the match itself. Pakistan strengthened their position in the tri-series and booked their place in the final, while England suffered another disappointing defeat after struggling to convert individual performances into a team victory.

England's innings began poorly, with early wickets putting the visitors under immediate pressure. Tom Banton departed for four, Joe Root scored five, and captain Harry Brook was dismissed for just one. At 19 for three, England needed a substantial recovery to establish a competitive total.

Ben Duckett became the central figure in that recovery. The left-handed batter played a composed innings of 105 from 111 deliveries, striking 10 fours and two sixes. He mixed patience with well-timed attacking shots, helping England rebuild after their difficult start.

Sam Curran provided valuable support, scoring 42 from 52 balls. Their partnership helped stabilise the innings and gave England a platform from which to accelerate. Gus Atkinson added an unbeaten 36 from 28 deliveries towards the end, contributing useful runs as the lower order attempted to push the total higher.

However, Pakistan's bowlers continued to take wickets and prevented England from completing their innings with a major late surge. The visitors were dismissed for 241 in 46.4 overs, leaving Pakistan with a target that looked achievable but required a disciplined batting performance.

Duckett's century was one of England's strongest individual contributions in the match, yet the team's early collapse and inability to bat through the full 50 overs left them vulnerable.

Pakistan's bowling performance was crucial in keeping England's total within reach. Shaheen Shah Afridi delivered a strong spell, finishing with four wickets for 46 runs in 8.4 overs.

His early breakthroughs disrupted England's top order and forced the visitors to rebuild rather than dictate the pace of the innings. Taking out key batters in the opening overs also placed pressure on England's middle order to protect wickets while maintaining the scoring rate.

Razaullah claimed two wickets, while Arafat Minhas also picked up two. Their contributions prevented England from building several long partnerships and helped Pakistan maintain control during important stages of the innings.

The bowling unit's performance meant that, despite Duckett's century and Curran's useful support, England finished with a total Pakistan could realistically chase.

At the halfway stage, the match remained open. England had enough runs to challenge the hosts, but Pakistan's bowling effort ensured that the chase would be decided by their batters' ability to manage pressure.

Pakistan's chase began in disappointing fashion. Fakhar Zaman scored 10, Saim Ayub made six, and Babar Azam managed only 10 as England's bowlers struck early.

The top-order collapse left Pakistan at 31 for three, putting the hosts on the back foot almost immediately. Saad Baig attempted to stabilise the innings with an attacking 32 from 22 deliveries, hitting seven fours. His contribution briefly revived Pakistan's hopes, but England continued to take wickets at crucial moments.

Salman Ali Agha added 26, while Hasan Nawaz scored 15. Neither batter was able to turn a promising start into a substantial innings, and Pakistan slipped further behind the required run rate as wickets fell.

When Arafat Minhas departed for one, Pakistan were in serious trouble at 103 for six. The situation became even more difficult as Salman and Shaheen Afridi were dismissed, leaving the team at 131 for eight.

Razaullah's dismissal at 154 for nine appeared to leave Pakistan with little chance of completing the chase. With only one wicket remaining and still 88 runs required, England were firm favourites to win.

What followed, however, became the defining moment of the match.

Shadab Khan delivered one of the most important innings of his ODI career, scoring an unbeaten 113 from 96 balls. His knock included 13 fours and five sixes, combining measured batting with timely aggression.

Rather than panic as wickets fell around him, Shadab continued to assess the situation and choose his scoring opportunities carefully. He rotated the strike when possible and attacked deliveries that allowed him to reduce the target.

His innings was especially impressive because he had to manage the chase while repeatedly losing partners. With Pakistan's recognised batters back in the dressing room, every additional run carried greater importance.

Shadab's performance demonstrated the value of composure in a high-pressure ODI chase. He remained focused when the match appeared almost lost and gave Pakistan a chance to win that few spectators would have expected after the ninth wicket fell.

The century was not simply a personal milestone. It was the foundation of Pakistan's comeback and ultimately the difference between defeat and a place in the final.

Haris Rauf's contribution at the other end proved equally important in the context of the finish. With Pakistan down to their final wicket, the fast bowler supported Shadab as the pair put together an unbeaten 89-run partnership for the tenth wicket.

Rauf remained not out on seven, while Shadab supplied the bulk of the scoring. Their partnership surpassed the previous record for the highest tenth-wicket stand in a successful men's ODI run chase, turning an improbable recovery into a historic result.

The partnership also highlighted an important aspect of limited-overs cricket: lower-order batters do not need to match a set batter's scoring rate to make a decisive contribution. Staying at the crease, choosing sensible shots and giving the established batter opportunities to score can be enough to change a match.

For Pakistan, the stand was a demonstration of resilience and belief. For England, it was a painful reminder that a match is not over until the final wicket falls.

Shadab and Rauf guided Pakistan across the finish line at 243 for nine in 47.1 overs, completing a one-wicket victory with 17 balls remaining.

England had several opportunities to close out the game. Their bowlers repeatedly broke partnerships and reduced Pakistan to a position where victory appeared almost certain.

Jamie Overton was among the leading wicket-takers, claiming three wickets for 43 runs. Gus Atkinson also picked up three wickets, while Liam Dawson took two. Their combined efforts exposed Pakistan's top-order weaknesses and kept the pressure on the hosts throughout the chase.

The turning point came when England could not remove Shadab despite having Pakistan nine wickets down. As the partnership grew, the visitors faced a difficult balance: attacking for the final wicket while preventing Shadab from finding boundaries.

Pakistan's last pair continued to score, and England were unable to break through before the target was reached. The defeat was particularly frustrating because their bowling had been effective for much of the innings.

The match illustrated how even a strong bowling performance can be undone by a determined lower-order partnership. England had created the opportunity to win, but Pakistan's final-wicket resistance proved decisive.

The victory secured Pakistan's place in the tri-series final, providing a major boost to the hosts ahead of the tournament's concluding match.

For Pakistan, the win offered more than two points. It showed that the side could recover from a severe batting collapse and remain competitive even when the odds appeared stacked against them. Shadab's innings also gave the team a powerful example of how patience and calculated aggression can work together under pressure.

England, meanwhile, were left to consider another missed opportunity. Duckett's century and the bowlers' success in reducing Pakistan to nine wickets were not enough to secure a win. Converting strong individual performances into a complete team result remained a major challenge.

The match also offered valuable lessons for both teams. Pakistan will want to address their top-order instability before the final, while England will need to find ways to close out games after establishing a dominant position.

The fourth match of the 2026 Pakistan ODI Tri-Series will be remembered primarily for Shadab Khan's unbeaten century and the historic tenth-wicket partnership with Haris Rauf.

England had reasons to believe they could win after restricting Pakistan to 154 for nine. Their bowlers had created the pressure required to defend 241, but Shadab's determination changed the outcome.

Pakistan's victory underlined the unpredictable nature of ODI cricket. A team can appear close to defeat before one exceptional partnership transforms the match. It also highlighted the importance of lower-order contributions, composure under pressure and maintaining belief until the final delivery.

With Pakistan reaching the final, the result could become a defining moment in their tri-series campaign. Shadab's performance will stand out as the innings that turned a near-certain defeat into one of the tournament's most memorable wins.