Pakistan recovered from 81-4 to reach 302-9 against England in Rawalpindi, turning a cautious start into a forceful late-innings charge. England won the toss and chose to field in the second match of the three-team ODI series.
Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam before Saad Baig steadied the innings. Baig made 35 before Gus Atkinson removed him, while Salman Agha contributed 10 after making a hundred in Pakistan’s previous match. Hasan Nawaz then changed the momentum, hitting six from his first delivery and reaching 50 from 46 balls with four fours and three sixes.
Nawaz added 130 runs with Arafat Minhas before Jamie Overton bowled him for 79 from 74 balls.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, now Pakistan’s captain, hit two late fours off Curran and finished unbeaten on 10. Haris Rauf scored four from the final delivery, sending Pakistan past 300, while England were penalised for a slow over rate and had only one fielder permitted at long-on for the closing stages.
The series involves Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka and runs from October 18 to 31. After the Rawalpindi matches, the teams move to Lahore, where the final is scheduled for October 31.