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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.
Shaheen Afridi to Josh Inglis, Back of a length, around off, Josh Inglis punches this off his back foot towards point.
Shaheen Afridi to Josh Inglis, Shaheen bowls it full and on off, Josh Inglis pushes this with a straight bat to mid off for a dot.
Shaheen Afridi (2-0-16-1) brings himself back into the attack.
- Cameron Green 13 (33)
- Josh Inglis 42 (56)
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Flighted and fuller, at the stumps. Cameron Green pushes it to the right of the bowler. Shadab Khan tumbles away and stops it.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Fullish, outside off, Cameron Green mistimes his drive to the cover fielder.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Short, around off, Cameron Green dabs it to the off side.
Shadab Khan to Josh Inglis, Fuller yet again, around off, Josh Inglis leans on the delivery and drives it toward the left of the bowler. Shadab Khan makes a dive but fails to stop it. Single taken.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Pitches it up, does Shadab, on off, Cameron Green drives it to long off and gets a single.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Tossed up, much fuller, just behind the yorker length, around the pads of the batter. Cameron Green tucks it to mid-wicket.
- Cameron Green 12 (28)
- Josh Inglis 41 (55)
Haris Rauf to Cameron Green, Length ball on off, Green stays a bit low and plays it towards deep point picking up a single. Australia are 81/3 after 20 overs, and this partnership is now worth 30 runs.
Haris Rauf to Cameron Green, Oh, the surprise yorker now. Full and straight, quick too. Tails back into middle stump. Cameron Green manages to jam his bat down in time and keeps it out.
Haris Rauf to Josh Inglis, Another effort ball, dug in short and outside off, angling in. Inglis leans back and does well to guide it down to deep third for a run.
Haris Rauf to Josh Inglis, Dug in a bit shorter, on off. Inglis gets on his toes and keeps it down on the off side.
Haris Rauf to Josh Inglis, Brilliant stop! Back of a length again, outside off. Josh Inglis stands tall and punches it firmly to the right of point, but Shadab Khan dives in and stops a certain boundary. Inglis remains on 40.
Haris Rauf to Josh Inglis, Back of a length, bowled from wider of the crease and over middle. Inglis presses back and blocks it off.
- Cameron Green 11 (26)
- Josh Inglis 40 (51)
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, The googly now, landed on a length and just outside off. Green reads it well, hops back and dabs it down to point.
Shadab Khan to Josh Inglis, Flatter delivery on off, smacked down the ground to long off for just one more.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Fractionally short around off, cut away off the back foot and in front of square on the off side for a single.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Immaculate length on off, turning the ball away. Cameron Green gets a big stride in and make sthe block.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, A bit quicker and fuller on leg, turns away. Green rocks back to defend.
Shadab Khan to Josh Inglis, Slow and short on off, turns away a long way. Inglis manages to drag it past the diving bowler and down to long on for a single.
DRINKS! Time for a hydration break. The home side would be the happier of the two at this point. Australia, too, would feel they have made a decent comeback after losing a wicket on the very first ball. Josh Inglis holds the key for the Australian side as he has looked at ease in this contest thus far and it depends a lot on him to what the visitors will post on the board.
- Josh Inglis 38 (49)
- Cameron Green 10 (22)
Haris Rauf to Josh Inglis, Fuller in length, outside off, and inducing the drive. Josh Inglis goes after it but gets it off the outer half of the blade towards deep third for a single.
Haris Rauf to Josh Inglis, Full again, at 144.8 kph and angled back into the stumps. Inglis watchfully defends.
Haris Rauf to Josh Inglis, Pitched full and straight, looking to slip one through. Inglis manages to get his bat down in time and drives it to mid off.
Haris Rauf to Cameron Green, Angled into the pads now, worked away to the left of deep mid-wicket for a single.
Haris Rauf to Cameron Green, Good length, attacking the top of off and middle at nearly 141 clicks. Green solidly blocks it to cover.
Haris Rauf to Cameron Green, Hard length outside off, stays a tad low. Green gets across and blocks it off the inner half of the blade.
Haris Rauf has been called back into the action.
- Josh Inglis 37 (46)
- Cameron Green 9 (19)
Shadab Khan to Josh Inglis, Fullish length, wide outside off, Inglis leans across and plays it towards cover.
Shadab Khan to Josh Inglis, A googly now, too full and on middle. Inglis leans on and smothers it towards mid on.
Shadab Khan to Josh Inglis, FOUR! Easy pickings, but Josh Inglis does well to put it away. Short and wide, it stands up for the batter. Inglis rocks back and punches it through covers for a boundary.
Shadab Khan to Josh Inglis, Oh, that's some sharp turn. On a length, drifted into off, but the leg-break pitches and turns away square, leaving Inglis bamboozled.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Dragged length on off, this one grips a bit. Green stays back and pats it down wide of cover-point for one more.
Shadab Khan to Josh Inglis, Shadab tosses it up, full and wide outside off. Josh Inglis plays the square drive and picks up a single in the deep.
Josh Inglis hasn't really played a false stroke thus far and his side will be counting on him to play a big knock here.
Another change for Pakistan. Shadab Khan joins the attack, replacing Arafat Minhas.
- Cameron Green 8 (18)
- Josh Inglis 32 (41)
Maaz Sadaqat to Cameron Green, Darted in quicker, outside off as well. Green jams it out towards cover. Just 3 off the over.
Maaz Sadaqat to Josh Inglis, Slow and short, Inglis has to wait back before punching it past extra cover for a single.
Maaz Sadaqat to Josh Inglis, A lot more air on this one, lobbed up on off and middle, allowing the ball to turn. But its slow turn and Inglis easily pats it behind point.
Maaz Sadaqat to Josh Inglis, Pushed through quicker now, just outside off. Inglis makes yet another block.
Maaz Sadaqat to Josh Inglis, Nagging length, in and around off, Inglis opens the bat face late and angles it towards short third.
Maaz Sadaqat to Josh Inglis, On the shorter side, Josh Inglis pounces on it and slaps it wide of deep cover. Haris Rauf runs to his right in the deep and dives to make the stop. The batters get two runs.
- Cameron Green 8 (17)
- Josh Inglis 29 (36)
Arafat Minhas to Cameron Green, Another maiden for Arafat Minhas. Fired in straighter, Green lunges to defend yet again.
Arafat Minhas to Cameron Green, Seems like Green and Australia are happy to play the waiting game against Minhas. Fullish length on off, Green blocks it off the front foot.
Arafat Minhas to Cameron Green, Four dots on the trot! Dragged length around middle, Cameron Green rocks back and punches it out to mid on.
Arafat Minhas to Cameron Green, Quicker through the air, full and just outside off. Green eases it out towards point.
Arafat Minhas to Cameron Green, A bit more flighted, drifting into the pads. Green looks to block but gets a bit of a leading edge into the off side.
Arafat Minhas to Cameron Green, Full and straight at 88.7 kph, slides right on. Green gets half a stride out to defend.
- Cameron Green 8 (11)
- Josh Inglis 29 (36)
Maaz Sadaqat to Cameron Green, Flatter one on off, tapped away comfortably through cover-point for a run. Australia are 65/3 after 14 overs.
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
