PAK vs AUS highlights, 2nd ODI: Nathan Ellis shines as Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs in Lahore

Going down to the wire - Right then, we are two games down in this three-match ODI series, and both Pakistan and Australia have won a game each. We now stay in Lahore for the 3rd and final ODI of this series. That game will be played on Thursday, June 4, and will begin at 11.30 am GMT. However, as usual, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

The skipper of Australia - Josh Inglis explains that the team focused heavily on their batting approach during a quick turnaround, leading to crucial partnerships and contributions across the entire lineup on a slow surface. Josh also notes that the squad aimed to remain patient and post a competitive total above 200. Inglis also playfully shifts the blame to his bowlers for a couple of failed DRS reviews. Inglis concludes by crediting Nathan Ellis for an outstanding performance, highlighting how the bowler's exceptional pace variations between 100 kph and 145 kph.

The captain of Pakistan - Shaheen Afridi believes his team conceded 20 to 30 extra runs in the final few overs, while an early loss of wickets shifted the pressure onto their batting lineup. Shaheen adds that the spin-friendly track makes batting difficult, but points out that the ball begins to come onto the bat more smoothly during the second innings. Afridi credits Ellis for finding immense success on this surface by consistently attacking the stumps.

POTM - Nathan Ellis is given the accolade for his match-winning figures of 4 for 33 in 9 overs. Nathan Ellis says that when you get the new ball and a wicket like this, you need to deliver for the team. On being asked about how difficult it is to become a sole pacer for a team, he replies that it's not something to be pressured about. He reckons that one of the important aspects of his team is being flexible and willing to try something better. On his bowling approach, Ellis says that he tried to bowl low and slow on this track. Also says that slower balls were working, so he was just sticking to the plan.

The Presentation ceremony...

Another low-scoring affair - We saw the pitch grip and stay low in Rawalpindi, and it was the same story in Lahore. The deck was dry and aided the spinners, but it was more consistent spin than just uneven turn and bounce like in Pindi. Shaheen Afridi had no hesitation in bowling first and he himself got the ball rolling by picking the wicket of Alex Carey on the very first ball of the game. It was then a tussle between the Pakistani spinners and the Aussie batters as Arafat Minhas yet again stood up and got a couple of wickets. A couple of half centuries from Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, along with a couple of solid knocks from Matt Renshaw and especially Oliver Peake at the death, got Australia to a really decent total of 231, given the nature of the surface. Like Minhas, Abrar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf also got a couple of wickets as Shaheen stood out with a three-fer for his side.

Uninspired batting from the hosts - Pakistan managed to gun down a low target in the last game, but they were sluggish to say the least, and again, they made a relatively low target look pretty high. The top order fumbled hard as Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat were dismissed within the space of 6 deliveries. Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori tried to stitch together a game-clinching stand just like the last game but Babar was dismissed by Ellis. Ghori did score some valuable runs but the likes of Salman Agha and Abdul Samad were sent back cheaply. There was some hope renewed when Shadab Khan and Arafat Minhas got together and the duo put on a stand of 59 runs before Minhas was dismissed. Shadab kept the fight alive until the end, but he was the last to fall on a score of 71, as the hosts lost by a heavy margin of 41 runs.

Setting the tone up top - Nathan Ellis and Matthew Kuhnemann were destructive up top and picked up a wicket each inside the first 8 balls. Ellis is known for his slower balls, and this was a pitch tailor-made for him. He ran riot inside the first Powerplay and even got the prized wicket of Babar Azam. Not only him, but the spinners worked well in tandem and had the hosts reeling at 44/4 and then at 78/6 as well. Matthew Short did a fine job ripping through the Pakistani middle order and he ended up with three wickets to his name. Adam Zampa and Kuhnemann got a wicket each as Ellis brought up his career-best ODI bowling figures, finishing with 4 for 33. Tanveer Sangha was a bit unlucky not to get a wicket sooner, but he did get the final and most important wicket of Shadab Khan.

Aussies answer back in style - What a way to level the series, and the Aussie bowlers have done a fine job to bowl Pakistan out and make the final game a do-or-die contest. Pakistan fought hard through their middle order, but it was always a mountain too high, given the number of wickets they lost in the first half of the chase.

Tanveer Sangha to Shadab Khan, OUT! STUMPED! Australia win this contest by 41 runs and level the series 1-1 with a game to spare. Fuller, wide down the leg side, Shadab Khan goes for a flick but misses and falls over. His back foot drags out of the crease and Josh Inglis gathers this behind the stumps fairly and dislodges the bails in time. This is sent upstairs for a stumping check and the replay shows that Shadab was out of his crease when the bails were dislodged by Josh Inglis. OUT flashes on the giant screen.

Abrar Ahmed is the last man in.

Nathan Ellis to Haris Rauf, OUT! TIMBER! Nathan Ellis gets Australia within touching distance and picks up a four-fer as well. Slower ball, after slower ball, but now Ellis goes pace on. This is bowled relatively full and on off. Haris Rauf gets pegged onto the back foot and tries to fend it away but the ball nips back in, beats the bat and castles into the stump. Rauf goes for a 15-ball duck, and Pakistan still need 43 to win with just one wicket in hand.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Pace off again, full and wide outside off, patted down through cover-point for a single by Khan.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, No way out at the moment for Shadab. Ellis keeps the length full and pitches it outside off. Khan can only manage to drive it towards the cover fielder.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, No run yet again. Another slower ball, full and outside off. Khan lunges and drives it to cover. Three dots to start the over.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Slower ball, pitched full and outside off. Khan hangs back and guides it to deep third, but no single is taken yet again. Shadab Khan needs to get a big hit or two away every over.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Short of a good length, on off, dabbed down towards mid on by Shadab.

Adam Zampa to Haris Rauf, A flatter wrong'un now, angled into the stumps. Haris Rauf stays back and blocks it across to the on side. 44 needed now off 42 balls.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Floated up outside off, Khan leans on and eases it through covers for a single.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Short and wide outside off, cut away straight to backward point.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Fuller one, driven down the ground but Shadab isn't interested in taking the single.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Good length around off, punched away towards cover.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, SIX! Up, up and just over! Shadab Khan is really keeping Pakistan in the fight. Tossed up opn off, Khan goes after it and haves it across to wide long on. Cameron Green leaps up to his right but the ball clears him for a biggie.

Tanveer Sangha to Haris Rauf, A big appeal for LBW, turned down. Fuller oe, sliding into the pads. Haris Rauf looks to flick but misses and wears it on the pads. There is a discussion between the bowler and the keeper, but no review is taken. Oh, deary me! Later on Ball Tracking shows that had Australia reviewed it, it would have been out.

Tanveer Sangha to Haris Rauf, Nice and full again, straighter too, defended down the line by Rauf. Five dots in the over, with one ball to go.

Tanveer Sangha to Haris Rauf, The dots keep mounting. Tossed up around off, Rauf gets onto his front foot and pushes it into the off side.

Tanveer Sangha to Haris Rauf, Flatter and on middle, Rauf goes onto the back foot and short-arm jabs it to short mid-wicket.

Tanveer Sangha to Haris Rauf, Flotaed up on middle and leg, Rauf just nudges it behind square on the leg side and there's no run there either.

Tanveer Sangha to Haris Rauf, A drag-down on off, Rauf rocks back and smacks it straight back, but Sangha manages to make a stop to his right.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Oh, a heart-in-the-mouth moment for Shadab Khan, but he survives. Length ball, on off, turns away as well. Shadab pokes at it and gets a top edge that lobs up but falls short of backward point. 51 needed now off 54 balls.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Full and drifted into leg stump, Shadab gets his hands out in front and pushes it to the right of the bowler.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Shorter in length, outside off, tapped down to point.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, That's excellent running. Dragged length on middle and leg, Shadab Khan works it into the huge and vacacnt space at mid-wicket and manages to race back for the second run.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Floated up around off, Shadab lunges and strokes it through the gap at covers, but doesn't take the single.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Flatter one from the front of the hand, attacking middle, Khan jams it out.

Into the final 10 overs we go. Australia will be eager to wrap things up and will now be allowed as many as 5 fielders outside the ring. Whereas Pakistan will be hoping that Shadab Khan can take the fight deep. With that said, Adam Zampa is back into the attack. There is a slight halt as Shadab Khan seems to be struggling with cramps and the physio is out, tending to him. After a couple of minutes, we are good to go again.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Haris Rauf, Short of a length, around off, Haris Rauf rocks back and punches this to long off. for no run. Shadab Khan will keep the strike at the start of the new over.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Haris Rauf, Arm-delivery, around off, Haris Rauf tucks this to square leg.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Short of a length, around off, Shadab Khan cuts this off his back foot towards the left of deep cover for one.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Tossed up, around off, Shadab Khan sweeps this yet again but this time doesn't time this that well and runs two as deep square leg cuts it off.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, FOUR! A boundary to Shadab and Pakistan are inching close to the finish line. Tossed up, around off, Shadab Khan goes down on a knee and sweeps this through the square leg region for a boundary. Shadab Khan is cramping a bit.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Full and onto the pads, Shadab Khan steps a long way across and sweeps this to short fine leg.

Matthew Short to Haris Rauf, Short of a length, on middle, Haris Rauf blocks it down the deck.

Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, On a nagging length, outside off, Shadab Khan sweeps it to deep backward square leg and takes a single.

Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Short, on middle, Shadab Khan backs away and blocks it down.

Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Full, outside off, Shadab Khan flicks it to long on.

Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Matthew Short sees the batter shifting toward the leg side, so he follows the batter and fires it down the leg side. Shadab Khan swipes it to the left of the short fine leg fielder and gets a couple of runs.

Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Short, on middle, Shadab Khan tucks it to the right of mid-wicket and denies the single.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Haris Rauf, Full and on the pads, Haris Rauf pushes this back to the right of the bowler.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Haris Rauf, Short of a length, around off, Haris Rauf blocks this off his back foot yet again.