Shadab’s fighting knock goes in vain as Australia down Pakistan to level series
By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Fast bowler Nathan Ellis bowed extremely well while Cameron Green (53) and skipper Josh Inglis (51) blasted solid fifties as Australia conquered Pakistan by 41 runs to level the three-match ODI series 1-1 at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Tuesday.
The third and final game will be held at the same venue on Thursday.
Green and Inglis catapulted Australia to 231-9 on a tricky pitch of the iconic venue before they folded Pakistan for 190 in 44.1 overs to seal a massive win thanks to Nathan Ellis 4-33 in nine overs.
Shadab Khan played a fighting knock of 71 which came off 104 balls and had three sixes and one four.
Nathan Ellis was ably backed by part-time off-spinner Matthew Short who took 3-36, his career-best figures.
Chasing a tricky target Pakistan had a disastrous start. Fast bowler Nathan Ellis got rid of Maaz Sadaqat (0) for a first-ball duck before left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann removed Sahibzada Farhan (3) to leave Pakistan at 6-2 in the second over.
Ellis continued to dent Pakistan’s batting when he had the key wicket of Babar Azam (16), trapped leg before to reduce the hosts to 33-3 in the fifth over. Matthew Short, irregular off-spinner, then clean bowled Salman Ali Agha (7) to add to Pakistan’s misery. Agha, who failed to read a slider, struck one four from ten balls.
Mathew Short then got rid of Abdul Samad (2) to leave Pakistan gasping at 58-5 in the 12th over. Ghazi Ghori was batting well but it was experienced leggie Adam Zampa who bowled him when he went for a sweep and missed it completely. Ghori, who had hit fifty in the previous game, smashed five fours in his 48-ball 37.
At this stage Shadab Khan and Arafat Minhas batted extremely well and added 59 runs for the seventh wicket partnership to keep Pakistan’s hopes alive. However Nathan Ellis gave a much-needed breakthrough when he had Minhas, trapped lbw, to boost Australia’s chances.
Arafat Minhas, dropped by Ollie Peake off Adam Zampa at square-leg when on 24, smashed four fours in his 43-ball 33.
Shadab then added valuable 31 runs for the eighth wicket association with Shaheen Afridi who was removed by Matthew Short, held by keeper Josh Inglis. Shaheen hit two fours in his 18-ball 11.
And Pakistan were at that stage 168-8 in 37 overs.
Shadab Khan, who scored his fifth fifty after long four years, smashed three sixes and one four in his fine knock. Shadab was the last man got out when he was stumped by Inglis off Sangha.
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.
