Australia vs Pakistan 2nd ODI: Nathan Ellis Stars as Australia Level Series 1-1
Australia bounced back strongly in the second ODI against Pakistan, securing a convincing 41-run victory in Lahore to level the three-match series at 1-1. Fast bowler Nathan Ellis produced a match-winning spell of 4 for 33, while Cameron Green and Josh Inglis played crucial innings to help Australia post a competitive total on a challenging surface.
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After suffering defeat in the opening ODI, Australia responded impressively under pressure, overcoming difficult batting conditions before dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Match Summary
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Australia | 231/9 (50 overs) |
| Pakistan | 190 all out (44.1 overs) |
Australia won by 41 runs
Top Performers
Australia
- Cameron Green – 53 (85)
- Josh Inglis – 51
- Nathan Ellis – 4/33
- Matthew Short – 3/36
Pakistan
- Shadab Khan – 71
- Shaheen Afridi – 3/36
- Arafat Minhas – 2/27
Australia Struggle Early After Choosing to Bat
Asked to bat first, Australia endured a nightmare start when Josh Inglis' side lost Alex Carey on the very first ball of the innings.
Shaheen Afridi exploited the slow Lahore pitch brilliantly, with the ball holding up enough to deceive Carey and crash into the stumps.
Pakistan continued to dominate the opening phase as Abrar Ahmed removed Matthew Short, while Marnus Labuschagne fell cheaply attempting an aggressive sweep shot.
At 51/3, Australia appeared in danger of posting an underwhelming total.
Inglis and Green Rebuild the Innings
Captain Josh Inglis and Cameron Green steadied the innings with a valuable partnership.
While Green took a patient approach, Inglis counterattacked and ensured Australia kept the scoreboard moving.
Their partnership helped Australia recover before Inglis fell for a well-made 51 after being troubled by the inconsistent bounce.
Green remained composed, eventually reaching his half-century from 85 deliveries.
Further contributions from Matt Renshaw and Oliver Peake proved equally important as Australia navigated difficult batting conditions.
A late flourish from Peake, including a six and a boundary in the final over, pushed Australia to 231/9 — a score that later proved more than enough.
Pakistan Collapse Under Pressure
Pakistan’s chase mirrored Australia's early struggles.
Maaz Sadaqat was bowled in the opening over, while Sahibzada Farhan departed soon after following a sharp catch by Adam Zampa.
Nathan Ellis then struck a major blow by trapping Babar Azam leg-before, leaving Pakistan under immediate pressure.
The wickets continued to tumble as Matthew Short removed both Salman Agha and Abdul Samad.
When Adam Zampa bowled Ghazi Ghori, Pakistan had collapsed to 78/6 and appeared destined for a heavy defeat.
Shadab Khan Fights Alone
Despite the top-order collapse, Shadab Khan launched a spirited counterattack.
Partnering Arafat Minhas, Shadab added a crucial half-century stand that briefly revived Pakistan’s hopes.
The all-rounder reached a fighting 71 and struck several boundaries and sixes against Australia's attack.
Shaheen Afridi also chipped in with an aggressive cameo, helping reduce the target significantly.
At one stage, Pakistan required just 64 more runs, creating some nervous moments for Australia.
However, Matthew Short broke the partnership by dismissing Shaheen before Nathan Ellis returned to remove key wickets and finish the job.
Tanveer Sangha eventually ended Shadab's resistance, sealing Australia's victory.
Nathan Ellis Leads Australia's Bowling Effort
The standout performer of the match was Nathan Ellis.
His figures of 4/33 included the prized wicket of Babar Azam and the crucial breakthrough that ended Pakistan's most threatening partnership.
Ellis was supported brilliantly by Matthew Short, whose unexpected spell yielded 3/36 and helped Australia maintain control throughout the chase.
Australia Bowling Figures
- Nathan Ellis – 4/33
- Matthew Short – 3/36
- Matthew Kuhnemann – 1 wicket
- Adam Zampa – 1 wicket
- Tanveer Sangha – 1 wicket
Turning Point of the Match
Pakistan's collapse to 78/6 proved decisive.
Although Shadab Khan fought valiantly, the early damage caused by Australia's disciplined bowling attack left the hosts with too much ground to recover.
Australia's ability to extract assistance from the slow Lahore pitch and strike regularly ultimately separated the two sides.
Series Situation
The victory levels the ODI series at 1-1 and sets up a decisive final match between the two teams.
Australia will take confidence from their bowling performance, while Pakistan will need a much stronger batting display if they hope to clinch the series.