Ellis Leads Australia to Victory in Lahore
Pace bowler Nathan Ellis played a pivotal role as Australia dismissed Pakistan for 190 runs, securing a 41-run win and leveling the one-day international series in Lahore.
The Sydney-born fast bowler made early inroads by dismissing opener Maaz Sadaqat for a duck, followed by the key wicket of Babar Azam, who scored 16 runs, leaving Pakistan in a difficult position. Ellis concluded his bowling spell with impressive figures of 4-33. Matthew Short also contributed significantly with the ball, taking 3-36 as Pakistan's innings faltered.
Australia's Batting Efforts
Earlier in the match, Josh Inglis and Cameron Green provided crucial resistance with half-centuries, helping Australia set a target of 232 runs. Green played a composed innings of 53 runs off 92 balls, while Inglis scored 51 runs from 74 deliveries. Their partnership was vital in countering Pakistan's spin attack on the dry pitch at Gaddafi Stadium after Australia was put into bat.
The Green-Inglis partnership added 51 runs for the fourth wicket after Australia had lost three early wickets, including opener Alex Carey, who was dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi on the very first ball of the match. Spinners Abrar Ahmed and Arafat Minhas also made early breakthroughs, removing Matthew Short (15) and Marnus Labuschagne (5) respectively.
Inglis struck five boundaries during his innings before being bowled by Minhas in the 27th over. Minhas, who had taken five wickets on debut during Pakistan's five-wicket victory in the first ODI in Rawalpindi on Saturday, finished with figures of 2-27.
Cameron Green contributed a further 65 runs for the fifth wicket in partnership with Matthew Renshaw, who scored 43 runs, before Abrar Ahmed dismissed Green, putting pressure on the Australian batting lineup. Green's third ODI half-century included one boundary and two sixes.
Oliver Peake added valuable runs towards the end of the innings, scoring a brisk 31 runs off 32 balls, which included two sixes and a boundary, helping Australia post a competitive total.
Pakistan's Bowling Performance
Shaheen Shah Afridi was the most successful bowler for Pakistan, taking 3-36. Despite his efforts, Pakistan's batting lineup was unable to chase down the target set by Australia.
