LAHORE: Australia bounced back to beat Pakistan in the second ODI, leveling the three-match ODI series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Set a stiff 231 on a tricky surface, Pakistan lost their way in the middle and were eventually bundled out for 190 in 44 overs.
The home side had a similar start, losing opening batter Maaz Sadaqat for nought in the first over. The dismissal was in the same manner as that of Australia’s Alex Carey earlier in the day.
The introduction of spin in the second over, with only two fielders outside the circle, lit up Sahibzada Farhan’s eyes. The right-hander tried to sweep a leg stump delivery, but found Adam Zampa at fine leg, who took a well-judged catch.
With this, Pakistan were two down for six with Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori at the crease. The pair provided brief resistance with a 27-run partnership. However, Nathan Ellis trapped Babar Azam lbw to put his side in a dominant position. He only made 16 with the help of two fours.
Pakistan’s slide continued with Salman Ali Agha (7) and Abdul Samad (2) also falling in quick succession. As a result, Pakistan were 58-5 at the end of the powerplay.
The problems deepened with Ghori’s wicket in the 17th over, who departed after hitting five fours in his 37 off 48 deliveries.
With the scorecard 78-6, Arafat Minhas and Shadab Khan paired up to revive Pakistan’s chase. Both batters soaked pressure, sharing a 59-run stand that provided the Green Shirts some respite.
Minhas eventually departed after making 33 off 43 while Shadab continued to resist until his departure in the 45th over. He was the last wicket to fall in the 45th over, stumped off Tanveer Sangha’s bowling. The right-hander top-scored with 71 from 104, hitting three sixes and a four.
For Australia, Nathan Ellis returned with the figures of 4/33 while Matthew Short remained potent with the ball, picking up three wickets.
Earlier, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi’s three-wicket haul, backed by Arafat Minhas and Abrar Ahmed’s two wickets, derailed Australia’s batting lineup in the second ODI at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Put into bat first, Australia could only muster 231-9 in their 50 overs with Josh Inglis and Cameron Green scoring fifties.
The visitors were jolted early as Shaheen Afridi castled opening batter Alex Carey for a golden duck. The left-hander’s chop on dismissal gave an early sign of what was coming on this dry surface.
After an early blow, Matthew Short and skipper Josh Inglis shared 46 runs on the second wicket. Short tried to capitalize on the fielding restrictions with a couple of boundaries.
However, once Abrar and Arafat were introduced into the attack, the visitors’ woes compounded.
Abrar first removed Short, who made 15 off 24 with the aid of two fours. Incoming batter Marnus Labuschagne fell prey to Minhas, caught by Salman Ali Agha on five.
Consequently, Australia were reduced to 51-3 at the end of the powerplay with Inglis and Cameron Green at the crease.
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The duo tried to steady the innings, sharing a half-century stand. Both batters took the score over the 100-run mark, particularly Inglis, who remained solid at the crease and raised his half-century.
But it was Arafat again, who broke the threatening stand with Inglis’ wicket, cleaning him up soon after the batter reached his fifty. He made 51 off 74, striking five fours.
With wickets falling at regular intervals, Matt Renshaw came to the fore and added a 65-run partnership with Green. The pair effectively arrested the slide, with Green completing his half-century.
The scorecard read 167 in the 40th over when Abrar removed Green, who made 53 off 92, including a four and two sixes.
After the wicket, Australia lost their way, a pattern they followed from the first ODI. Renshaw was also dismissed in the 44th over. The southpaw hit three fours in his 43 off 43 balls.
The innings quickly unraveled afterward, with the youngster Ollie Peake providing the late lift. The left-hander played a vital cameo of 31 off 32 balls, hitting two maximums and a four.
For Pakistan, Shaheen picked up three wickets while Arafat Minhas, Abrar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf shared six wickets between them.
READ: Ghazi Ghori leaves field during second ODI against Australia