Australia levelled the three-match ODI series against Pakistan at 1-1 after claiming a 41-run victory in the second ODI at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Tuesday. Pace bowler Nathan Ellis was the standout performer, claiming four wickets to earn the Player of the Match award, while Matthew Short chipped in with three scalps as Pakistan were bowled out for 190 in 44 overs chasing a target of 232.

Australia Post Fighting Total of 231

Pakistan’s bowlers made early inroads after winning the toss, reducing Australia to 51 for three inside 11 overs. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck on the very first delivery of the innings to dismiss Alex Carey, while Abrar Ahmed and Arafat Minhas accounted for Matthew Short and Marnus Labuschagne to leave the tourists in early trouble.

The innings was steadied by skipper Josh Inglis, who batted at number three and contributed a composed 51 off 74 balls with five fours, and Cameron Green, who struck 53 off 92 balls including a pair of sixes. Their efforts gave Australia a platform to build from a precarious position.

Late hitting from Matthew Renshaw, who scored 43 off 43 balls, and Oliver Peake, who smashed 31 off 32 balls with two sixes, helped Australia add 47 runs from the final seven overs to close on 231 for nine. Shaheen finished with impressive figures of 3 for 36 in eight overs, while Arafat Minhas took 2 for 27 and Haris Rauf claimed 2 for 49.

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Pakistan Collapse Early, Shadab Khan Fights Alone

Pakistan’s run chase fell apart inside the first three overs when opener Maaz Sadaqat was bowled by Ellis off the third ball of the innings. Sahibzada Farhan followed in the next over off the bowling of Matt Kuhnemann, and Babar Azam’s brisk 16 off 16 balls ended when he was trapped lbw by Ellis with the score at 33 for three in the fifth over.

Short then removed Salman Ali Agha and Abdul Samad in quick succession to reduce the hosts to 58 for five. Mohammad Ghazi Ghori offered brief resistance with 37 off 48 balls, hitting five fours, before being bowled by Adam Zampa as Pakistan slipped to 78 for six in the 17th over.

Shadab Khan proved to be Pakistan’s most stubborn obstacle, anchoring the lower-middle order with a measured 71 off 104 balls — his second-highest ODI score — featuring three sixes and a four. He added 59 for the seventh wicket with Arafat Minhas, who contributed 33 off 43 balls, before Ellis trapped Arafat lbw at the end of the 32nd over to break the partnership.

Shadab remained at the crease until he was stumped by Inglis off Tanveer Sangha as Pakistan fell 41 runs short, bowled out for 190 in 44 overs.

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