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

Welcome back for Pakistan's reply with the bat! The two umpires stride out toward the middle of the park. The players of Australia are scattered to take their respective fielding positions. The camera pans on Nathan Ellis, who has the new ball in his hand. Maaz Sadaqat and Sahibzada Farhan will open the innings for Pakistan. Ellis to Farhan with a slip in place. Away we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

About the pitch - If we talk about the pitch, it looked really slow from the very first ball, and the spinners were enjoying bowling on it. However, once a batter gets settled on it, he looks very comfortable facing the deliveries. The addition of Adam Zampa into the playing XI will surely give some boost to the Aussies. Remember, this is a must-win match for the Australian side, so there are no rooms for mistakes. Stick around with us as the second chapter will unfold in sometime.

Middle-order resistance crumples - Following the skipper's departure, Cameron Green shouldered the responsibility of anchoring the side towards a competitive total. Exhibiting great discipline against a heavily spin-reliant Pakistan attack, Green ground his way to a resilient, fighting half-century. Partnering with a proactive Matt Renshaw, who immediately began rotating the strike. The duo forged a vital, sturdy fifty-run partnership, but just when it moved to the 60's, Abrar Ahmed and Haris Rauf shook hands to eliminate both the set batters. After the fall of the sixth wicket, no batter from the lower middle order stood up, except for Oliver Peake, who went 31 off 32 balls and pushed over 230.

The anchor cut short - Recognizing the immense danger, stand-in captain Josh Inglis took the anchor role alongside Cameron Green to rebuild the fractured innings. Inglis showed superb temperament, picking his gaps carefully and picking up five boundaries on his way to a vital, gritty 51 off 74 deliveries. Just as it seemed the skipper was ready to shift gears and launch a late-innings assault, the impressive youngster Arafat Minhas struck again to get the wicket of Inglis. This left Australia in another vulnerable position at 102 for 4, desperately needing their lower middle order to step up and find a way to navigate Pakistan's suffocating spin attack.  

Perfect start for Pakistan - The action began with immediate drama as Pakistan's captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, won the toss, chose to bowl, and struck gold on the very first delivery. Australia’s top order suddenly found themselves walking a tightrope on a sluggish, slow, and turning pitch. While Matthew Short tried to inject intent, but got eliminated by Abrar Ahmed, and when the dependable Marnus Labuschagne gave up his wicket to Arafat Minhas shortly after, the visitors were left reeling at a precarious 51 for 3.

A quick word from Abrar Ahmed - Abrar says that the plan was to bowl as they did in the previous ODI, and they got success with that plan. Abrar reckons that the wicket at Pindi was a bit skiddy, but this is even tougher as the ball is gripping into the surface. Abrar mentions that it will take a good batting effort to chase this, but he feels confident in his side's batting unit.

Pakistan were clinical with the ball - Just like the first match, Pakistan's bowlers were once again in their element, reading the conditions accurately and turning them firmly in their favour. The spinners set the tone through the middle overs, applying relentless pressure and strangling the Australian batting lineup, before the pacers took over in the final ten and brought the innings to a commanding close. However, in the last over, Rauf would feel that he gave away some extra runs, but still, it was a good overall display from the Pakistan bowling unit. It is yet another underwhelming batting display from Australia, and one that falls well short of the standards this side is capable of setting, posting a total of 231 runs. Yes, the pitch has undeniably assisted the bowlers, but the question now lingers that is it enough to defend? Only time will tell.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, OUT! TIMBER! Haris Rauf ends proceedings with a wicket, and Australia finish with 231/9 on the board. Rauf keeps going for the full and fast one and gets it spot-on this time. Bowled at around 147 clicks, full, not quite yorker length but right at the stumps. Oliver Peake makes room to open up the off side but is beaten for raw pace, and the ball smashes into the stumps. End of a nifty knock from Peake and 16 runs come off the final over.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, FOUR BYES! A bit of a wild delivery, and the keeper gets a really bad bounce as well. Full toss, just outside off. Peake makes room but fails to connect and the ball just shoots off after pitching behind the stumps. Ghazi Ghori is taken aback and the ball races past him for four extra runs towards fine leg.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, FOUR! This is momentum-shifting batting from Oliver Peake. Back of a length, at nearly 146 kph and trying to cramp the batter. Peake swivels back and pulls it firmly to the left of deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 12 off the over, with 2 balls still to go.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, Another slower one, dug in short and outside off. Peake reaches out and forces it over the cover fielder for a couple of handy runs.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, SIX! That's a clean strike and Australia go past 220. Slower delivery, overpitched and outside off. Oliver Peake goes onto the back foot and lays into the lofted drive, launching it over wide long off for a biggie.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, Ambitious attempt from Oliver Peake. Pace on and over off and middle, Peake tries to reverse hit it away, but the ball was past him in a flash.

Shaheen Afridi to Adam Zampa, Full and at the toes, clipped away through square leg. They do take the single off the last ball, pretty surprising. Actually, they don't and Oliver Peake will be on strike at the start of the final over.

Adam Zampa comes out next to bat for Australia. 

Shaheen Afridi to Nathan Ellis, OUT! CAUGHT! High, high, but not long enough. Shaheen Afridi rolls his fingers over the ball and bowls it into the pitch. Nathan Ellis backs away and leans back to swing it leg side but gets it high on the bat. The ball sails down to wide long on, where Arafat Minhas settles under it and takes a good catch.

Shaheen Afridi to Nathan Ellis, Very full and outside off, Ellis goes after it but misses, and he seems angry with himself.

Shaheen Afridi to Nathan Ellis, FOUR! That's a fine shot. Full and attacking off stump, Nathan Ellis makes room and laces the swat down to long off for a boundary.

Shaheen Afridi to Nathan Ellis, Oh, that's missed the off stump by a whisker. Fuller one jammed in towards the off pole. Nathan Ellis backs away and misses to connect, but the ball deviates away after pitching and misses the stumps. Half an appeal for caught behind, and nothing more. Actually, UltraEdge later shows that there was indeed and outside edge.

Shaheen Afridi to Oliver Peake, High up in the air, doesn't carry. Slower ball into the pitch, grips a bit. Oliver Peake hangs back to pull but gets a top edge that lands well in front of Abrar Ahmed, who came in from fine leg. Just a single.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, Slightly short and angled in, awkwardly chipped towards mid on for a single by Peake.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, Not where Peake intended that to go. Just back of a length, angled in, Peake leans back to launch it over mid-wicket but the ball just doesn't arrive quickly enough. It goes off the toe end of the blade to mid off.

Haris Rauf to Nathan Ellis, Good length, around off, tentatively pushed away in front of cover for a quick single.

Haris Rauf to Nathan Ellis, Much better. The outswinger now, a bit full and outside off, shapes away a fair bit. Ellis pokes at it but misses.

Haris Rauf to Nathan Ellis, FIVE WIDES! Bonus runs for the Aussies. Very ill-directed from Haris, on a length and sprayed down the leg side. The keeper dives to his left, but fails to get a glove on it and the ball rolls away to the fine leg fence.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, Short, but not short enough to pull, outside off. Oliver Peake leans back and drags it across to deep square leg for one.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, Bashed on a hard length, darted in a long way towards the batter. No room on offer for Peake, who punches it out to silly mid on.

Shaheen Afridi to Nathan Ellis, Excellent over, just a wide and a wicket off it as well. Shorter and angled into the batter, Ellis hops up and gets hit on the body.

Shaheen Afridi to Nathan Ellis, That's a big swing and a miss. Full and just outside off, angles in a bit. Nathan Ellis stays back and just looks to tee off like in golf, hoicking it across the line but fails to connect.

Shaheen Afridi to Nathan Ellis, Shaheen comes around the wicket to the right-hander, hammers the shorter length and angles it in. Ellis gets cramped for room and hops to defend.

Shaheen Afridi gets his second wicket. Nathan Ellis is the new man at the crease. 

Shaheen Afridi to Matthew Kuhnemann, OUT! BOWLED'EM! This was very much on the cards. Shaheen Afridi keeps the length fairly full and shapes the ball back in towards the stumps. Matthew Kuhnemann backs away yet again and has a wild swipe across the line, missing the ball completely and the ball then smashes into the stumps. Kuhnemann's job was to get Peake on strike, but he's just swung for the fences and got himself out.

Shaheen Afridi to Matthew Kuhnemann, A wide yorker, reverses in late. Kuhnemann backs away early and has to reach for it, toe-ending it into the off side.

Shaheen Afridi to Matthew Kuhnemann, WIDE! Attempted bumper, dug in well short and angled down leg. Kuhnemann backs away and ducks under it.

Shaheen Afridi to Matthew Kuhnemann, Looking for the straight yorker, Shaheen ends up serving a low full toss, which Kuhnemann hits it back to him.

Haris Rauf to Matthew Kuhnemann, Darted into the pads, Kuhnemann misses the flick and the ball rolls off the pads to square leg. The batters pick up a leg bye.

Haris Rauf to Matthew Kuhnemann, The off-cutter now, nearly skims the top of off stump. Good length, angled in from outside off, but straightens. Kuhnemann stays leg side of the ball and has half a poke at it but is well beaten.

Haris Rauf to Matthew Kuhnemann, Full and straight, angling into middle and leg, Kuhnemann jams it across to wide mid on.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, A direct hit, and Kuhnemann would have been gone! Length ball, attacking off stump. Oliver Peake stays back and drops it with soft hands in front of point, setting off for the single. Shadab Khan gathers the ball and underarms the throw at the keeper's end but misses and Kuhnemann is able to drag his bat home. 200 up for Australia now.

Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, A bit slower and pushed into the pads. Peake tentatively blocks it to short mid-wicket.

Haris Rauf to Matthew Kuhnemann, Back of a length, at 144.2 clicks and outside off. Kuhnemann hangs back and punches it down square through the point region for a single.

Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, SIX! SMASHED AWAY FOR A HUGE SIX. Flighted, around middle and leg, Oliver Peake goes down on a knee and slogs this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region. 

Shadab Khan to Matthew Kuhnemann, Full and on the pads, Matt Renshaw gets it away towards point for one.

Shadab Khan to Matthew Kuhnemann, Short of a length, arond off, Matt Renshaw looks to flick it away but gets it edged over the bowler for a couple towards long on.

Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Tossed up, on the pads, Oliver Peake hits this to deep square leg for a single.

Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Wrong'un around off, Oliver Peake looks to block this off his back foot but he fails to read the wrong'un and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Fuller on middle and off, Oliver Peake drives this down to long off for a single. The throw comes in from the deep, hits the stumps directly at the striker's end, allowing the batters to take an extra run as the ball rolls towards square leg.

Haris Rauf to Matthew Kuhnemann, Pace-on bumper at 140.1 kph from Rauf, around the left ear of Matthew Kuhnemann. The Aussie batter gets away from the line of the ball and leaves it.

Haris Rauf to Matthew Kuhnemann, Back of a length, wide of off, Matthew Kuhnemann keeps his guard down here.