Nathan Ellis claimed a career-best four-wicket haul as Australia defeated Pakistan by 41 runs in the second ODI at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. The understrength tourists, missing skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, posted 231-9 before bowling Pakistan out for 190 in 44 overs to level the three-match series 1-1.
How did Australia beat Pakistan in the 2nd ODI?
Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs after posting 231-9 in 50 overs, anchored by half-centuries from Josh Inglis (51) and Cameron Green (53). Nathan Ellis then returned career-best figures of 4-33, and part-time spinner Matthew Short chipped in with 3-36 to dismiss Pakistan for 190 in 44 overs.
How did Nathan Ellis take his career-best figures?
Ellis made an immediate impact, removing opener Maaz Sadaqat off the third ball of Pakistan's innings for a duck before taking the prized wicket of Babar Azam for 16. His previous best was 2-13 against India in 2023. The decisive blow came when he dismissed Arafat Minhas leg-before, breaking a 59-run seventh-wicket stand that had threatened Australia's grip on the match.
Short's career-best 3-36 complemented Ellis perfectly, and together they prevented any late Pakistan resurgence. Shadab Khan was the last man out, stumped off a wide ball from spinner Tanveer Sangha, as Australia sealed the win.
How did Australia's batting set up the win?
Pakistan put Australia in to bat and attacked with spin from as early as the fifth over, reducing the visitors to 51-3. Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled opener Alex Carey with the first ball of the match, while spinners Abrar Ahmed and Arafat Minhas each removed a further batsman.
Green and Inglis steadied the innings with a sedate 51-run fourth-wicket stand. Inglis hit five boundaries in a 74-ball 51 before being bowled by Minhas in the 27th over. Green, whose 92-ball 53 contained one boundary and two sixes, then added 65 runs for the fifth wicket with Matthew Renshaw (43). Oliver Peake ensured Australia reached a competitive total with a brisk 32-ball 31, hitting two sixes and a boundary. Shaheen finished as Pakistan's best bowler with 3-36.
How did Shadab Khan fight back for Pakistan?
Pakistan were in serious trouble at 78-6 when Shadab Khan launched a counter-attack. He put on 59 runs for the seventh wicket with Minhas (33) and a further 31 with Shaheen (11), taking his side to 169 before Ellis broke through. Shadab's 104-ball 71, which included three sixes and four boundaries, was a lone hand for the home side. Ghazi Ghori contributed 37 with five boundaries lower down, but Pakistan were ultimately bowled out for 190.
What is at stake in the 3rd ODI in Lahore?
Pakistan won the first match by five wickets in Rawalpindi, making Thursday's third and final ODI in Lahore a series decider. Australia's second-string side has shown enough fight to suggest the match is wide open, with Ellis and Short likely to be key factors again on a pitch that suited both spin and pace movement.
