Pak vs Eng Live Updates: Pakistan Clinches Last-Ball Thriller Against England, Sets Stage for Epic Series Decider

Rawalpindi—A cracking start to the Pakistan-England rivalry resumed today as Match 2 of the ODI Tri-Series got underway at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. England captain Harry Brook won the toss and opted to bowl first on a hard, green-tinged surface that promised early movement. The decision paid off inside six overs when Gus Atkinson and Will Jacks removed openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub cheaply, leaving Pakistan wobbling at 31/2. At the first drinks break Pakistan were 51/2 after 12 overs, with skipper Babar Azam (29*) and debutant wicket-keeper Saad Baig (11*) rebuilding at a run rate just above four. Jamie Overton’s steep bounce and pace have already tested the pair, but with the field spreading Babar’s trademark cover-drives are beginning to flow. Why this game matters • World Cup dress rehearsal: Both sides are using the tri-series (Sri Lanka are the third team) as their final tune-up before the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa. • Selection battles: Pakistan have stuck with an unchanged XI, backing young quick Naseem Shah alongside Shaheen Afridi, while England have recalled Adil Rashid and Sam Curran to give their attack more variation. • Momentum swing: England swept Pakistan 3-0 the last time the sides met in England but lost the opening game of this tri-series to Sri Lanka. Pakistan, meanwhile, beat Sri Lanka by 48 runs on Sunday and can tighten their grip on the table with another win. Key match-ups to watch 1. Babar Azam vs Adil Rashid: Pakistan’s anchor versus England’s leg-spin maestro often decides the middle overs. Babar strikes at 91 against Rashid in ODIs; anything close to that should push Pakistan past 280. 2. Shaheen Afridi vs Harry Brook: Afridi knocked over Brook for a golden duck in Lahore last winter. With Brook now England’s captain, the left-arm quick’s first spell could shape the chase. 3. Will Jacks vs Shadab Khan: England’s power-play aggressor against Pakistan’s skiddy leg-spinner; expect fireworks if Jacks keeps opening. Pitch and conditions Rawalpindi usually flattens out under lights, so anything under 300 can be vulnerable. Dew is forecast from 7 p.m. local time, making the ball slippery for seamers later in the evening. How to watch and stream • TV: PTV Sports (Pak), Sky Sports Mix (UK) • Digital: ICC.tv worldwide, ESPN+ (US), Sky Go (UK) Upcoming fixtures • 22 Oct – England vs Sri Lanka, Lahore • 25 Oct – Pakistan vs England, Lahore (reverse tie) The top two sides after the double round-robin meet in the final on 28 Oct. Recent head-to-head snapshot (last five ODIs) ENG 3 – PAK 2. England’s dominance came at home, but in Asian conditions Pakistan have won four of the last six encounters. SEO takeaway Fans searching “PAK vs ENG live score”, “Pakistan vs England tri-series”, “Babar Azam today”, or “England playing XI Rawalpindi” will find everything here: live score updates, squad news, pitch report, streaming options, and key statistics—all in one place to stay ahead of the action.