LAHORE: The World Champions Australia bounced back in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan in style, winning the second one-dayer by 41 runs here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Chasing a modest 232, Pakistan collapsed to 190 all out despite Shadab Khan’s fighting 71, as Nathan Ellis ran through the top order and Matthew Short chipped in with three crucial wickets.
If Pakistan’s bowlers had produced a dream start by removing Alex Carey for a golden duck, their batters produced a nightmare of equal measure. Nathan Ellis, Australia’s most disciplined bowler in the first ODI, needed just three deliveries to send Maaz Sadaqat back to the pavilion for a duck. The batter edged one that moved just enough, and the scoreboard read a perilous 4 for 1.
One over later, the situation worsened. Matthew Kuhnemann, the left-arm spinner, trapped Sahibzada Farhan in front. Pakistan were 6 for 2, and Gaddafi Stadium had fallen silent.
Babar Azam, the man who had anchored the first ODI chase with 69, walked in at number three with the weight of the innings on his shoulders. But then Ellis struck again. Babar attempted to work the ball through the leg side, missed and the LBW appeal was upheld. Pakistan were 33 for 3.
What followed was a procession. Salman Agha, promoted up the order, managed 7 off 10 balls before Matthew Short—Australia’s part-time spinner—bowled him with a delivery that skidded on. 44 for 4. Abdul Samad, the big-hitting finisher, lasted five balls before chipping a simple catch back to Short. 58 for 5. Ghazi Ghori, the hero of Rawalpindi with 65, battled to 37 off 48 balls before Adam Zampa deceived him with a googly that turned past the outside edge and clipped the off bail. 78 for 6.
Shadab Khan, dropped down the order, joined Arafat Minhas—the debutant hero from Rawalpindi—at the crease with the scoreboard reading 78 for 6. What followed was the most substantial partnership of the innings: 59 runs off 82 balls for the seventh wicket.
But Nathan Ellis had other plans. Returning for his second spell, the Australian seamer removed Minhas LBW. 137 for 7. Shaheen Shah Afridi holed out to Inglis behind the stumps. 168 for 8. Haris Rauf added 21 runs with Shadab in a ninth-wicket stand that was more about survival than scoring. But when Ellis returned to bowl Rauf—his fourth wicket of the innings—the end was near. 189 for 9.
Abrar Ahmed, stranded at the non-strikers’ end, watched as the final wicket of Shadab fell in the most agonising manner. With the score on 190, needing 42 more runs, the last pair could not find the single that would have brought hope for Pakistan.
