The Pakistan cricket team pulled off a remarkable victory against England in an ODI tri-series encounter at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on October 25. Chasing a target of 242 runs, the hosts suffered a disastrous top-order collapse that left their chances of winning looking extremely grim. Wickets tumbled continuously, and the scoreboard showed 9 down for just 154 runs, pushing the team to the brink of a certain defeat.
A Record-Breaking 10th-Wicket Stand
Refusing to surrender, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf joined forces at the crease to script an unforgettable turnaround. The pair forged an unbroken 89-run partnership for the 10th wicket, steering the team home in stunning fashion. Shadab played a masterclass knock under immense pressure, notching up his maiden ODI century to remain unbeaten on 113 runs. Meanwhile, Haris supported him resiliently, facing 18 deliveries to finish with 7 not out. This extraordinary rescue act secured Pakistan's berth in the tournament final, while compounding troubles for England, who now face an uphill battle to qualify after suffering two consecutive defeats.
Better Than a 51-Year-Old Milestone
The 89-run partnership between Shadab and Haris shattered a 51-year-old record for the highest 10th-wicket partnership in a successful run chase in ODI cricket history. The previous record was held by West Indies players Dairym Murray and Andy Roberts, who had put together a match-winning 64-run stand for the final wicket against Pakistan while chasing 267 in Birmingham back in 1975. The new milestone set in Lahore establishes a fresh benchmark for lower-order resistance in limited-overs history.
Shadab Enters the Record Books
Shadab's unbeaten 113-run innings also earned him a unique individual record in the format. He is now the batsman with the highest individual score in ODI cricket while batting at number 8 or lower. He surpassed Ireland player Simi Singh and Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Simi Singh had scored an unbeaten 100 against South Africa in 2021, while Mehidy Hasan had also hit an unbeaten 100 against the Indian team in 2022, a feat that Shadab has now eclipsed with his career-best knock.
