Watch: Gus Atkinson bowls a peach to dismiss Babar Azam

Gus Atkinson’s Brilliant Delivery Sends Babar Azam Back as Pakistan Chase England’s 242

Pakistan’s fourth match of the tri-series against England at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium produced a moment of high-quality fast bowling when Gus Atkinson dismissed Babar Azam with a sharp, swinging delivery. The Pakistan batter had struck the England pacer for four just one ball earlier, but Atkinson responded immediately, beating his defence and knocking over the stumps.

The dismissal added pressure to a tense chase. England had posted 241 after recovering from an early collapse, while Pakistan’s top order also faltered. With the hosts needing a win to regain momentum, the match became a test of whether the middle order could steady the innings and keep the target within reach.

Atkinson Strikes Back After Babar’s Boundary

The key moment came in the seventh over. Babar found the boundary off Atkinson’s previous delivery, but the bowler adjusted his line and length for the next ball. It shaped back into the right-hander, slipping through the gap between bat and pad as Babar attempted to drive. The ball crashed into the stumps, ending his innings at 10 from 12 deliveries.

It was a classic fast-bowling dismissal: Atkinson drew Babar into playing away from his body, then used late movement to expose the space between the batter’s bat and front pad. Babar’s front foot remained planted rather than moving decisively towards the pitch of the ball, leaving him unable to cover the line. After taking the wicket, Atkinson gave the departing batter a brief send-off, adding an extra edge to the exchange.

For England, the breakthrough was especially valuable because Babar remains one of Pakistan’s most experienced batters and a key figure in the middle order. Removing him early gave the visitors a chance to put the chase under further pressure.

Babar Azam’s Recent ODI Form Under Scrutiny

The dismissal also brought renewed attention to Babar’s recent run of scores in one-day cricket. He had not registered a half-century in his previous five ODI innings, with his most recent fifty-plus score coming against Australia in May. For a player who has often been relied upon to anchor Pakistan’s batting, the sequence is a reminder that even established stars can face difficult stretches.

Across the 2025–26 season to that point, Babar had scored 424 runs in 12 innings at an average of 35.33. His returns included a century, a half-century and a highest score of 102 not out, while his strike rate stood at approximately 71.31. Those figures show that he has still produced substantial contributions, but Pakistan will want greater consistency from him, particularly in close matches where a stable innings can shape the entire chase.

The challenge for Babar is not simply to score quickly or chase a milestone. He will need to regain the balance that has made him effective: getting into position early, judging movement outside off stump and choosing when to attack. A return to form could be important for Pakistan’s ODI plans, especially with the team looking to build a dependable batting order around its senior players.

England Recover After Shaheen Afridi’s Early Damage

England’s innings began poorly after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl. Shaheen Afridi struck early, putting the visitors’ top order under immediate pressure. The Pakistan captain finished with four wickets, making the most of the conditions and giving his side control during the opening stages.

Ben Duckett, however, provided the resistance England needed. While wickets fell around him, the left-hander played a composed and productive innings, reaching a century and helping England recover from a difficult position. His contribution lifted the total to 241, a score that gave the bowlers something to defend after the early collapse.

Duckett’s innings was significant not only for its runs but for its timing. England had lost momentum and needed someone to manage the rebuilding phase before accelerating. His hundred allowed the visitors to turn a fragile start into a competitive total, while also showing the value of adapting to the match situation rather than forcing the pace too early.

Pakistan’s Chase Hinges on a Middle-Order Partnership

Pakistan’s reply followed a similarly unsettled pattern. The top order lost wickets, including Babar, leaving Salman Ali Agha and Hasan Nawaz to rebuild with the score at 96 for four. At that stage, the required target remained achievable, but another quick wicket could have shifted the advantage decisively towards England.

The pair’s immediate task was to avoid risky shots, rotate the strike and put together a substantial partnership. With 242 required, Pakistan did not need to panic, but the batters had to ensure that the asking rate did not climb beyond control. A steady stand would give the lower order a platform; a collapse would leave the hosts chasing the game in the final overs.

England, meanwhile, had reason to keep attacking. Atkinson’s dismissal of Babar showed that disciplined lines and movement could trouble Pakistan’s batters, while the pressure created by the early wickets gave the visitors an opportunity to target the remaining middle order. The contest was therefore finely balanced between Pakistan’s need for composure and England’s search for another breakthrough.

Match Prediction: A Close Finish Depends on Pakistan’s Recovery

Any match prediction at this stage depends heavily on whether Agha and Nawaz can stay together long enough to stabilise the chase. Pakistan had home conditions and a reachable target in their favour, but the loss of top-order wickets made England’s total more challenging than it first appeared. If the pair built a partnership and kept the required rate manageable, the hosts would remain well placed to finish the job.

For England, the route to victory was straightforward: maintain pressure, bowl to the field and take wickets before Pakistan’s middle order could settle. Atkinson’s delivery to Babar offered a clear example of how quickly the balance could change. With the match still open, the next partnership—not the earlier score alone—was likely to determine which side gained control.

The fixture also carried wider importance for England, who had lost their first two matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. After failing to defend 430 in their previous game against Sri Lanka, Harry Brook’s side needed a response. Pakistan, for their part, were looking to bounce back at home and turn a strong bowling performance into a complete team result. The outcome depended on whether their middle order could provide the calm, sustained batting that the chase demanded.