- News
- Sports News
- Cricket News
- 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 Shadab Khan, Pitches it up, on off, Shadab Khan defends it to cover.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Arafat Minhas, Fuller, around off, Arafat Minhas lofts it to deep cover for a single.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Short, outside off, Shadab Khan cuts it well to the left of the short cover fielder. The fielder does well to put a dive and gets some hands on it to make a half stop. Single taken.
- Arafat Minhas 10 (19)
- Shadab Khan 18 (29)
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, Sangha comes around the wicket and drags the length back, angling it in. Minhas pushes it down to mid on.
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, Attempted wrong'un, flighted full and wide outside off, doesn't spin. Arafat Minhas lunges to defend but gets an outside edge down to deep third and picks up a couple of runs.
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, Nicely tossed up, on middle and leg, Minhas drives it back to the bowler.
Tanveer Sangha to Shadab Khan, Lobbed full and down leg, Khan works it behind square leg for a single.
Tanveer Sangha to Shadab Khan, Half an appeal for LBW, turned down. Josh Inglis does review it. Seemed like a slider from Tanveer Sangha, bowled from the front of the hand and targeting the stumps. Shadab Khan rocks back to defend and punches it out to cover. The third umpire is called in and initial replays show that the bat is brushing the pad and UltraEdge confirms the same. It stays Not Out, and Australia lose a review.
Tanveer Sangha to Shadab Khan, Floated up to the batter, on middle. Shadab drives it back to the bowler.
- Arafat Minhas 8 (16)
- Shadab Khan 17 (26)
Matthew Kuhnemann to Arafat Minhas, Flighted much fuller, on middle, Arafat Minhas jams it back to the bowler.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Fuller in length, on off, Shadab Khan drives it to cover.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Arafat Minhas, Tossed up, around off, Arafat Minhas pushes it through cover.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Fullish, on leg, Shadab Khan looses his balance while flicking it toward the deep fine leg region for a single.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Pitches it up, a touch fuller, just outside off, turns it away from the batter. Shadab Khan gets on his front foot and looks to block it but it zips past the outside edge.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Arafat Minhas, Short, around the pads of the batter. Arafat Minhas tucks it to square leg for a single.
- Arafat Minhas 6 (13)
- Shadab Khan 15 (23)
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, Full and on middle and leg, Arafat Minhas pushes this down to long on for a single.
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, Pushed through around off, Arafat Minhas guides this to short third for nothing.
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, FOUR! This will give Arafat Minhas and the Pakistan dressing room a world lot of confidence. Flighted, around off, Arafat Minhas gets close to the pitch of the ball and hammers this over the extra cover fielder for a thumping boundary. 145 more needed for Pakistan.
Tanveer Sangha to Arafat Minhas, Floated around off, Arafat Minhas plays this off his back foot and guides this to backward point.
Tanveer Sangha to Shadab Khan, Quicker and flatter on the pads, Shadab Khan tucks this through square leg for a run.
Tanveer Sangha to Shadab Khan, Fuller onto the pads, Shadab Khan glances this to fine leg for a couple.
- Shadab Khan 12 (21)
- Arafat Minhas 1 (9)
Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Good length, on the pads, Shadab Khan nudges this through square leg for one.
Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Back of a length, around off, Shadab Khan dabs this around short leg.
Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Full and on middle and leg, Shadab Khan punches this towards mid on for another dot.
Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Hard length, on off, Shadab Khan punches this firmly towards the right of point and sets off for a one but is sent back again.
Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Almost chopped on. Good length, wide of off, Shadab looks to guide this towards backward point but ends up chopping this off the inside edge towards the keeper's left.
Nathan Ellis (4-0-22-2) is back on.
Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Ellis bowls it on a length, around off, a slower one. Shadab Khan pushes this towards mid on and was looking to steal a single but Arafat wasn't on the same wavelength and he sends him back. A better throw towards the striker's end might have been the end of Khan here.
- Arafat Minhas 1 (9)
- Shadab Khan 11 (15)
Matthew Short to Arafat Minhas, Floated around off, Arafat Minhas pushes this off his front foot towards covers.
Matthew Short to Arafat Minhas, Fired onto the pads, Arafat Minhas gets rapped on his pads as he misses out on a flick.
Matthew Short to Arafat Minhas, Tosed up, on the pads, Minhas keeps it out.
Matthew Short to Arafat Minhas, Arm-delivery, angling into the batter, Arafat Minhas plays for the straight one and gets it edged off the inside edge towards short leg.
Matthew Short to Arafat Minhas, Short of a length, around off, Arafat Minhas cuts this off his back foot but swipes over it and gets it away from the under-edge towards point.
Matthew Short to Arafat Minhas, Full and on off, Arafat Minhas gets on top of the bounce and keeps it out.
- Arafat Minhas 1 (3)
- Shadab Khan 11 (15)
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, Tossed up, on the pads, Arafat Minhas tucks this through backward square leg for a single.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, Full and on the pads, Arafat Minhas tucks this to short mid-wicket.
Adam Zampa to Arafat Minhas, Quicker one, on off, Arafat Minhas gets right behind the line of the ball and keeps it out.
The next batter in is Arafat Minhas.
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, OUT! TIMBER! Adam Zampa bowls it a lot slower through the air, drifts this into the batter and this one skids as well after pitching. Ghazi Ghori plays for the spin but the ball goes straight past the gate between bat and pads. The ball rattles the timber and the break does the trick for Australia as Ghazi Ghori departs and Pakistan are 78 for 6 now.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Pushed through around off, Shadab Khan dabs this through backward point for a single.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Short of a length, around off, Shadab Khan rocks back and punches this through covers for a couple.
DRINKS! 16 overs done in the chase and Australia are right on top of proceedings. They have the hosts reeling at 75/5, needing 157 more to win with just 5 more wickets in hand. However, Ghazi Ghori is still out there, battling it out and has a capable partner in the form of Shadab Khan. The Aussies know that a wicket or two more in the next 5-10 overs, and it will be game over for the hosts. Let's see if Pakistan can keep fighting and find a way to make a real match out of this one.
- Shadab Khan 8 (13)
- Ghazi Ghori 37 (47)
Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Pushed through on the pads, Shadab Khan rocks back inside his crease and flicks this to deep backward square leg for a single.
Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Fired around off, going across the batter, Shadab brings out the reverse sweep and guides this past the short third fielder to his left for a couple.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Floated around off, Ghazi Ghori plays this late and guides this to the left of short third for one.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Fired into the batter on middle and leg, Ghazi Ghori swivels and pulls this in the gap between Alex Carey at deep square leg and Matthew Kuhnemann at deep mid-wicket for two runs.
Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Short comes around the stumps and attacks the pads of Shadab. The batter tickles this to fine leg for a single.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Fuller around off, Ghazi steps a long way across and milks this through square leg for a single.
- Ghazi Ghori 33 (44)
- Shadab Khan 4 (10)
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, Tossed up, around off, Ghori punches this towards sweeper cover for a run.
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, Fuller around off, Ghazi Ghori goes down on a knee and sweeps this well to the right of square leg but Matthew Short puts in the dive to his left and fields this.
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
