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- PAK vs AUS highlights, 2nd ODI: Nathan Ellis shines as Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs in Lahore
PAK vs AUS highlights, 2nd ODI: Nathan Ellis shines as Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs in Lahore
With the ODI World Cup in southern Africa still around 16 months away, the team management faces an interesting decision. Do they continue preparing pitches that suit their strengths and help them win immediately, or do they look further ahead and create conditions that might resemble those expected at the World Cup? A series victory would certainly boost confidence and reinforce the team's recent progress. Yet preparation for a major tournament often requires thinking beyond short-term success. Lahore has traditionally produced high-scoring matches, and a more batting-friendly surface could test Pakistan's bowlers in different ways. Regardless of the pitch, Pakistan will enter the match with momentum and belief after taking a 1-0 lead. Another victory would not only secure the series but also underline their growing strength in home conditions against a competitive Australian side.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Arafat Minhas, Pitches it up, around the pads yet again. Arafat Minhas flicks it from the inner part of his bat to short fine leg.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Arafat Minhas, Quicker and fuller, on pads, Arafat Minhas tucks it to square leg.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Full, just outside off. Shadab Khan gets on his front foot and pushes it through cover for one. That will bring up the 50-run partnership between these two batters.
- Shadab Khan 30 (61)
- Arafat Minhas 29 (35)
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Flighted, on the pads, Shadab Khan presents a full face of his bat and punches this through the right of the bowler for one.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, Quicker one, around off, Arafat Minhas rolls this down to long on for a run.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Fuller around off, Shadab Khan drives this to sweeper cover for a single.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Shorter in length, outside off, ansd cut away straight to point.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Another enquiry for LBW, but a stifled one. Bowled from the front of the hand, on a length and on middle. Shadab Khan rocks back to defend, but there's again the question of whether the bat was in front of the pads or not. No review taken.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, A slider around leg, Minhas advances down the pitch and works it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.
109 more runs are needed for Pakistan to win this game and clinch the series, whereas the visitors need 4 more wickets to level it.
- Shadab Khan 28 (57)
- Arafat Minhas 27 (33)
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Good-length delivery, at the stumps, Shadab Khan tucks it to short mid-wicket.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, On a nagging length, outside off, Khan opens the face of the bat and guides it to backward point.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Kuhnemann drags his length back, outside off. Khan punches it to cover.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, A touch fuller, around off, Shadab Khan gets on his back foot and eases it away from his body to cover.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Tossed up, fuller, just outside off, Shadab Khan defends it to cover.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Arafat Minhas, Much fuller, on middle, with a bit of flight. Arafat Minhas gets down on one knee and sweeps it swiftly toward the left of the deep square leg fielder for a single.
- Shadab Khan 28 (52)
- Arafat Minhas 26 (32)
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, An appeal for LBW, turned down. Too high? The Aussies don't review it. Adam Zampa flights the ball up on leg, drifting it in. The ball pitches and turns away, squaring up Shadab Khan, who is beaten past the outside edge and gets caught on the pads. Probably pitching outside leg as well.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Flighted ball, Shadab Khan lunges well ahead and pushes it to mid on.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, On the shorter side, on the pads, worked away past square leg for a single by Minhas.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Another quicker one, fired into the pads. Khan misses the flick and the ball brushes the pads, rolling to short fine leg for a leg bye.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Quick and a bit full, on middle, Shadab keeps it out.
How costly will this drop turn out to be? Oliver Peake has dropped Arafat Minhas on 24.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, DROPPED! That should have been the game for the Aussies. Very full and on middle, Arafat Minhas lunges and tries to force the sweep shot but miscues it badly. The ball gets lobbed up to the left of square leg, where Oliver Peake jumps across and spills it. Single taken.
- Shadab Khan 28 (48)
- Arafat Minhas 24 (30)
Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Shortish yet again, around off, Khan blocks it down.
Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Short of a length, outside off, Shadab Khan looks to cut it late, but cramps for room. The ball goes past the outside edge and Josh Inglis gloves it and dislodges the stump, appealing for stumping. The third umpire sees that Shadab Khan's back foot is grounded inside the crease when Inglis hits the stump.
Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Deft touch! Matt Renshaw drags his length back, just outside off. Shadab Khan waits for the delivery to arrive and opens the bat to steer it to deep third for another brace.
Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Full, on off, Shadab Khan fends it to cover.
Matt Renshaw to Arafat Minhas, Fuller in length, around off, Arafat Minhas opens the face of the bat and pushes it to point for a single.
Matt Renshaw to Arafat Minhas, Short of a length, on off and middle. Arafat Minhas goes deep into the crease and flicks it well toward the left of Alex Carey in mid-wicket and gets a couple of runs.
- Shadab Khan 26 (44)
- Arafat Minhas 21 (28)
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Oh, that is a beauty from Zampa. Flatter one, angled into middle and leg. Shadab Khan looks to defend it down the line, but gets squared up as the ball grips and rips past the outside edge.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, Minhas does get the single now. Full and on middle, just eased down to long on for one.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, On middle and leg, sliding on. Minhas plays it with soft hands and works it across to short mid-wicket. Four dots in a row now.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, Tossed up, full and outside off, Minhas leans across and strokes it to short extra cover.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, Floated up on the stumps, dips a bit. Minhas covers the line and watchfully blocks it off.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Short one, turns square away from off. Shadab muscles it down to long on for just a single.
- Arafat Minhas 20 (24)
- Shadab Khan 25 (42)
Matt Renshaw to Arafat Minhas, Renshaw goes around the wicket to bowl to the lefty. He bowls full and around middle, Arafat Minhas prods and defends it to the left of the bowler.
Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Pitches it up, outside off, Shadab Khan eases it away from the cover fielder and gets across for one run.
Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, A bit fuller now, outside off, Shadab Khan drives it away toward the right of the sweeper cover fielder and gets a couple of runs.
Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Short and outside off, Shadab Khan rocks back and dabs it to backward point.
Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Fuller, on off, Shadab Khan blocks it down.
Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Matt Renshaw joins the attack now! He bowls fuller, around off and turns in. Shadab Khan looks to block it on his front foot but misses and wears on his pad. Appeal goes round but the umpire remains unmoved.
- Arafat Minhas 20 (23)
- Shadab Khan 22 (37)
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, FOUR! A poor, poor ball, and Tanveer Sangha nearly gets a wicket as well. Dragged way too short and down the leg side. Arafat Minhas rocks back and shovels the pull flat towards fine leg. The fielder charges in, dives forward but the ball lands well short and goes past the fielder for a boundary.
Tanveer Sangha to Shadab Khan, Shorter one outside off, stays relatively low. Khan manages to smack it towards deep cover and collects a single.
Tanveer Sangha to Shadab Khan, Pushed through quicker again, targeting the stumps. Khan rocks back to defend.
Tanveer Sangha to Shadab Khan, Flatter one around off, Khan rocks back and pats it down into the off side.
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, Sangha drags the length back, bowling it on leg. Minhas works it behind square leg for one.
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, FOUR! Beautiful shot! Tossed up, full and outside off, Arafat Minhas stays inside the line, leans on and lifts it inside-out over extra cover for a boundary.
- Shadab Khan 21 (34)
- Arafat Minhas 11 (20)
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Short, outside off, Shadab Khan rocks back and looks to cut but misses.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Appeal for LBW, but turned down by the umpire! Flatter and fuller, just outside off, Shadab Khan looks to sweep it but wears on the front of his pad. The impact hitting on the pads seems outside off.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Around off, Shadab Khan reverse sweeps it to backward point and gets a couple of runs.
Australia, meanwhile, face a different challenge. They need to improve quickly and prove that the struggles seen in Rawalpindi were only a temporary setback. The contrasting recent form of the two teams adds further interest. Pakistan's recent record shows a mix of results but also an ability to bounce back strongly.
Momentum can be powerful in cricket, but it can also shift quickly. A strong start from Australia would change the mood immediately, while another Pakistan victory would further strengthen the hosts' belief. With questions around spin, team selection, pitch conditions and World Cup preparation all hanging over the contest, the stage is set for an important and potentially decisive match in Lahore.
Match Statistics
Venue
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
