By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Fifties from Cameron Green and captain Josh Inglis guided Australia to 231 for nine against Pakistan on a challenging, slow surface in the second one-day international at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Opting to field first in scorching heat, Pakistan’s bowling attack exploited the uneven bounce and turn to keep the tourists under constant pressure throughout their 50 overs.
Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Pakistan the perfect start. He clean-bowled opener Alex Carey with the very first delivery of the match.
Inglis then joined Matthew Short to mount a recovery. The pair added 46 runs for the second wicket, navigating early spin before mystery spinner Abrar Ahmad dismissed Short for 15, taking a return catch off his own bowling.
Australia’s top-order troubles deepened when Marnus Labuschagne fell for just five. He was deceived by left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, top-edging a sweep to Salman Ali Agha. The dismissal left the visitors reeling at 51 for three in the 11th over.
Inglis and Green combined for a crucial 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Inglis reached his fifth ODI half-century off 71 balls, hitting five boundaries, before Minhas snuck a low-skidding delivery past his bat to bowl him for 51.
Green then anchored a 65-run stand with Matthew Renshaw to push Australia past the 150-mark. The all-rounder brought up his third ODI fifty off 85 balls but fell shortly after for 53, holing out to Sahibzada Farhan in the deep off Abrar’s bowling.
Renshaw maintained the momentum with a brisk 43 off 43 balls, including three boundaries before fast bowler Haris Rauf had him caught to leave Australia at 184 for six.
A late cameo from Oliver Peake, who struck 31 off 32 balls with two sixes, ensured Australia batted out their overs. Rauf bowled Peake on the final ball of the innings.
Afridi finished as the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, claiming three for 36 from his eight overs. Minhas (2-27), Abrar (2-34), and Rauf (2-49) provided excellent support to dismantle the Australian lineup.
In a rare tactical substitution, Rohail Nazir took over wicketkeeping duties for Pakistan from the 24th to the 32nd over after regular keeper Ghazi Ghori suffered from severe dehydration.
Pakistan named an unchanged side for the clash. Australia made one change, welcoming back leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who missed the opening match in Rawalpindi with a neck spasm, in place of pace bowler Billy Stanlake.
