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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.
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, Slightly short and on off, Ghazi Ghori cuts this well but straight to point.
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, Slider around off, Ghazi Ghori guides this to point for a dot.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Short and wide of off, Khan cuts this square to deep point for one.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Fuller around off, Shadab Khan blocks this out.
- Ghazi Ghori 32 (40)
- Shadab Khan 3 (8)
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Fired onto the pads, Ghazi Ghori steps inside the line of the ball and ramps this towards the fine leg region. Alex Carey mops it just inside the playing area, running to his right from wide fine leg to keep it down to two.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Flighted around off, Ghazi Ghori tucks this to the right of the bowler.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Full and wide outside off, Ghazi Ghori leans onto the pitch of the ball and guides this to point.
Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Fuller around off, Shadab Khan drives this towards wide mid off for one.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Tossed up, down the leg side, Ghazi Ghori goes down on a knee and looks for the sweep. Gets it tickled off the gloves towards the short fine leg region for a single.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Short bowls this fuller and on middle and off, Ghazi Ghori punches this right back to the bowler.
- Shadab Khan 2 (7)
- Ghazi Ghori 29 (35)
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Short of a length, around off, Shadab Khan rocks back and cuts this to point.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Quicker one, on the pads, Shadab Khan tucks this to short leg.
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, Fuller on the pads, Ghazi Ghori smashes this towards long on for a run.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Short of a length, around off, Khan cuts it off his back foot toward the sweeper cover region for a single.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Flighted, around off, Shadab Khan dabs this in front of first slip.
Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Tossed up, around off, Shadab Khan defends this one.
- Ghazi Ghori 28 (34)
- Shadab Khan 1 (2)
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Fuller around off, Ghazi Ghori drives this to covers for a dot.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Fuller around middle and leg, Ghazi Ghori milks this straight to Matt Renshaw at square leg.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Around that nagging length, on middle and off, Ghazi Ghori gets right behind the line of the ball and keeps it out.
Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Fired onto the pads, Shadab tucks this to fine leg for a single.
Matthew Short to Shadab Khan, Pushed through on middle and leg, Shadab offers a straight bat and pushes this to short mid-wicket.
Two wickets in the first three overs for Matthew Short. Shadab Khan comes out as number seven.
Matthew Short to Abdul Samad, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Pakistan, despite scoring at a healthy rate are in shambles as half of their side is already back in the dressing room. Quicker offie, around middle and off, turning into the batter, Abdul Samad stands tall and looks to work this through square leg but closes his bat face early and lobs this straight off the outside edge towards Matthew Short. Pakistan are 58 for 5.
- Ghazi Ghori 28 (31)
- Abdul Samad 2 (4)
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, Floated around off, Ghazi Ghori defends this one.
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, FOUR! Poor from Zampa and Ghazi makes him pay. Short of a length, wide of off, Ghazi Ghori swivels and pulls this with the bottom hand coming off the handle of the bat but the ball races wide to the left of deep mid-wicket for four.
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, Quicker and fuller around off, Ghazi punches this to covers.
Adam Zampa to Ghazi Ghori, Pushed through on off, Ghazi Ghori goes onto his back foot and offers a dead bat at it.
Adam Zampa to Abdul Samad, Flighted around off, Abdul Samad gets close to the pitch of the ball and drives this ti wide long off for a single.
Adam Zampa to Abdul Samad, Slider around off, Abdul Samad rocks back and blocks this out.
That's the end of the first Powerplay! Australia have started the innings with flying colours. After the completion of the first ten overs, Pakistan are now 53 for 4. As the restrictions lift, Australia are now allowed to have a maximum of 4 fielders outside the inner ring for overs 11-40. This might help the Pakistani batters to rotate the strike with a bit of ease. Also, Adam Zampa has been brought into the attack.
- Ghazi Ghori 24 (27)
- Abdul Samad 1 (2)
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, FOUR! That's begging to be hit, and it also brings up the 50 for Pakistan. Shortish length, turning back in. Ghazi Ghori goes onto the back foot and pulls it almost with a vertical bat, well in front of square on the leg side and picks up four more runs.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Bowled from around the wicket, outside the line of leg stump. Ghazi Ghori taps it down to short fine leg.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, In and around the off stump, Ghori keeps it out.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, FOUR! That's positive batting from Ghori. Dragged well short over middle, Ghazi Ghori rocks back and drags the pull shot towards deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Nagging length, turns back in sharply. Ghori leans on to defend but is a bit taken aback and gets an inside edge onto the pads.
Matthew Short to Abdul Samad, On the shorter side, on middle and leg, worked off the back foot and just to the left of square leg for a quick single. Abdul Samad is off the mark.
- Ghazi Ghori 16 (22)
- Abdul Samad 0 (1)
Matthew Kuhnemann to Ghazi Ghori, A maiden for Matthew Kuhnemann. Floated up on middle and leg, Ghori sweeps it straight to square leg.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Ghazi Ghori, Make that five dots in a row. Just short of a length, on off, Ghazi Ghori rocks back and punches it to the right of extra cover, where Marnus Labuschagne makes a fine stop.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Ghazi Ghori, Flatter one, turns away from off. Ghori goes onto the back foot and punches it sweetly but straight to the cover fielder. Four dots now.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Ghazi Ghori, On middle again, this one angles in. Ghori gets a big stride out and defends it back to the bowler.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Ghazi Ghori, A bit slower, drifted into middle, turns away as well. Ghazi Ghori watchfully blocks it off.
Matthew Kuhnemann to Ghazi Ghori, Flighted ball, lands it full on off. Ghori lunges to defend.
Change of ends for Matthew Kuhnemann.
- Abdul Samad 0 (1)
- Ghazi Ghori 16 (16)
Matthew Short to Abdul Samad, Lobbed full on middle, Abdul Samad punches it firmly to short mid on.
Another one bites the dust. Abdul Samad comes out to the middle as the new batter.
Matthew Short to Salman Agha, OUT! TIMBER! That's a brute of a delivery, and Pakistan are in tatters at 44/4. Matthew Short delivers this one quicker at 95.4 clicks, a bit fuller and just outside off. It is the natural variation, the one that drifts in but doesn't turn. Salman Agha plays for the spin and looks to block down the line, but the ball straightens, beats the outside edge and smashes into the off pole. Australia are well in control now.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Bowled well short and angling down leg, Ghori drags the pull down to long leg and turns the strike over.
Matthew Short to Salman Agha, Good running. Length ball outside off, Salman comes down the pitch, nudges it down behind square leg and gets across quickly for the single.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Slightly dragged length, this one grips and Ghori ends up chipping the punch through mid on for a single.
Matthew Short to Ghazi Ghori, Short starts with a fullish ball outside off. It is darted in and Ghazi Ghori manages to jam it out.
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
