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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.
Haris Rauf to Oliver Peake, Full and around off, Oliver Peake punches this to the left of mid off for one.
Haris Rauf to Matthew Kuhnemann, Good length, around off, Matthew Kuhnemann guides this to the third man region for one.
Matthew Kuhnemann walks out to bat next.
Haris Rauf to Matt Renshaw, OUT! TIMBER! Rauf answers right back. Right in the channel, on off, Matt Renshaw opens his bat face and looks to run this down the third man region but misses out, and the ball swings back in and sneaks past his bat and rattles the timber. Matt Renshaw departs for run-a-ball 43.
Haris Rauf to Matt Renshaw, FOUR! Great wrist control from Matt and he gets the first boundary for Australia after 50 balls, as per Ramiz Raja on-air. On a length, around the pads, Matt Renshaw flicks this through the square leg region and the ball races to the fence for four. The fielder did try to put in a dive and field this but failed to keep it away from the fence.
Haris Rauf is back into the attack.
- Oliver Peake 5 (14)
- Matt Renshaw 39 (41)
Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Tossed up, around off, Oliver Peake drives this past the left of the fielder at extra cover for two.
Shadab Khan to Matt Renshaw, Tossed up, on the pads, Matt Renshaw flicks this down to long on for a strike rotation.
Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Quicker googly, on off, Oliver Peake plays this off his back foot towards deep third for one.
Shadab Khan to Matt Renshaw, LEG BYE! Pushed through on the pads, Matt Renshaw goes for a flick off his back foot but misses and gets it deflected off his pads to the left of short fine leg for a leg bye.
Shadab Khan to Matt Renshaw, Flighted, around off, Matt Renshaw drives this through covers for a couple more.
Shadab Khan to Matt Renshaw, Wrong'un, around leg, Matt Renshaw goes deep inside the crease and tucks this towards the left of long on for two.
According to the new rules, after 34 overs, one of the two balls is chosen by the bowling side. Now, it seems that the ball chosen has gone out of shape. The fourth umpire is out with a box of balls, and the umpires choose one that is closest in terms of wear and tear to the previous one.
- Oliver Peake 2 (12)
- Matt Renshaw 34 (37)
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Tossed up, around off, Oliver Peake defends this one and sees out the last delivery from Abrar.
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Flicker, in the line of the stumps, Oliver Peake gets behind the line of the ball and keeps it out.
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Tossed up, on the pads, Oliver Peake hits this well but finds square leg.
Abrar Ahmed to Matt Renshaw, Full and on the pads, Matt nudges this through square leg for a run.
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Short of a length, on middle and leg, Oliver Peake pulls this flat towards deep square leg for one.
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Quicker one, around off, Oliver Peake dabs this to backward point.
- Oliver Peake 1 (7)
- Matt Renshaw 33 (36)
Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Short of a length, onto the pads, turning down the leg. Oliver Peake helps this towards fine leg for a single.
Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Googly, not picked up at all, leaving the southpaw on his outside edge. Oliver Peake looks to block this one but gets beaten.
Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Full and on middle and leg, Oliver Peake gets it edged off the inside edge towards short fine leg.
Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Pushed through around off, going across the batter, Oliver Peake plays for the spin and slashes at it. Ends up blocking this out.
Shadab Khan to Oliver Peake, Tossed up, around off, Oliver Peake pushes this to short cover for a dot.
Shadab Khan to Matt Renshaw, Fuller on the pads, Matt Renshaw flicks this through square leg for one.
Powerplay 3! The fielding side will now be allowed 5 fielders outside the 30-yard circle till the end of this innings.
- Oliver Peake 0 (2)
- Matt Renshaw 32 (35)
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Dragged length on off, blocked off by Peake. A run and a wicket off the 40th over of the innings.
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Floated up, on a nagging length and on middle. Oliver Peake goes deep in the crease and drops it with soft hands in front of first slip.
Oliver Peake replaces Green with the bat for Australia.
Abrar Ahmed to Cameron Green, OUT! CAUGHT! A huge wicket at this stage of the innings, and Abrar Ahmed gives a staring send-off to Cameron Green as well. This is tossed up, on off and slightly short. Green rocks back to pull but snatches at it and gets it high on the bat. The ball gets clubbed down to long on, where Sahibzada Farhan comes in a bit and takes a safe catch. End of a fighting knock from Green, and Australia are 167/5.
Abrar Ahmed to Cameron Green, Fuller in length, pushed well wide of the off stump. Green reaches for it and toe-ends it towards cover-point.
Abrar Ahmed to Cameron Green, Dragged shorter and outside off, Green punches it straight to Shadab Khan at short extra cover.
Just an over for Agha and Abrar Ahmed replaces him.
Abrar Ahmed to Matt Renshaw, Flatter one on off, Renshaw hangs deep and swats it down to long on for one.
- Matt Renshaw 31 (34)
- Cameron Green 53 (89)
Shadab Khan to Matt Renshaw, Short, around leg, Matt Renshaw nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Shadab Khan to Matt Renshaw, Full toss, around off, Matt Renshaw flicks it to mid-wicket.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Short, outside off, Green slaps it to sweeper cover for one.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Full, around off, Green stabs it to backward point.
Shadab Khan to Matt Renshaw, Two wides! Short, down the leg side, Matt Renshaw misses his flick and the keeper fails to glove it. The batter gets a single.
A direct hit towards the bowler's end, and is that OUT? Just the first replay was enough to confirm that Green is safely inside his crease as the ball hits the stumps.
Shadab Khan to Matt Renshaw, Just a few inches in it! A touch fuller, around off, Matt Renshaw gets forward and looks to drive at it, but gets the outside edge. The ball rolls toward the right of the long off fielder. He does well to charge on the ball and has a shy to the non-striker's end as he sees the batters trying to get a double. The fielder scores a direct hit, but the third umpire sees that Cameron Green dragged his bat and managed to get inside the crease by a few inches.
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Khan tries to bowl much fuller, but offers a low full toss, on middle. Cameron Green drives it downtown to long on and gets a single.
- Cameron Green 51 (86)
- Matt Renshaw 28 (31)
Salman Agha to Cameron Green, Fuller one at the stumps, Green leans on and drives it down to long on for one. 7 easy runs off that over.
Salman Agha to Cameron Green, That's positive running from the batters. Fractionally short, Cameron Green presses back and works it wide of the deep mid-wicket fielder and races back for the second. Green also brings up his FIFTY, a very gritty knock from him.
Salman Agha to Matt Renshaw, Four balls, four singles so far. Good length on off, grips a bit and Renshaw works it off the back foot through mid on for a run.
Salman Agha to Cameron Green, Dragged length outside off, Green covers the line well and pushes it down to long on for one more.
Salman Agha to Matt Renshaw, Round-arm delivery, angled into off. Renshaw cuts it to deep point and picks up an easy single.
Salman Agha has been called into action with the ball.
Salman Agha to Cameron Green, Nagging length, spinning into the pads. Green punches it down to long on and turns the strike over.
- Cameron Green 46 (82)
- Matt Renshaw 26 (29)
Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, A bit slower now, full, around off, Green punches it to long off for another single. The 50-run stand is up between these two, a crucial one for the Aussies as well.
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
