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All-rounder Shadab Khan scored his first ODI half-century in nearly four years, rescuing Pakistan from 78/6 but it wasn't enough to guarantee a win against Australia. On June 2 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan suffered a collapse and lost to Australia by 41 runs as they couldn't chase down 232. Australia's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) duo Nathan Ellis and Matthew Short combined to take seven wickets, bowling out hosts for 190 to level the three-ODI series 1-1.
Slow start and Inglis scores fifty
Earlier, Shaheen Afridi won the toss and opted to bowl first. Afridi struck with the first ball, knocking over Alex Carey. Skipper Josh Inglis and Short tried to play out the new ball. Spin was introduced early and Abrar Ahmed got Short out caught and bowled for a 24-ball 15 in the eighth over. Then, in-form Arafat Minhas got Marnus Labuschagne's wicket as he went for a slog sweep but was caught by slip fielding Salman Agha. Inglis and Green stabilised the innings. In the 26th over, Inglis got to his half-century from 71 deliveries. Soon after, he got bowled by Minhas for a 74-ball 51.
Green’s fifty, Renshaw-Peake’s crucial knocks take AUS to fighting total
Cameron Green played too many dot balls. Matt Renshaw tried to push the scoring rate. Green showed signs of aggression when he hit Abrar for a six. In the 38th over, he reached his half-century from 85 deliveries. Abrar had the last laugh, getting Green's wicket in the 40th over. He scored 53 runs from 92 deliveries.
In the 44th over, Renshaw fell for a well-made run-a-ball 43 to Haris Rauf. Afridi returned to dismiss Matthew Kuhnemann. In his next over, he dismissed Ellis as well. In the final over, young Oliver Peake hit Rauf for a six and a four. He got out bowled for a 32-ball 31 on the last ball but Rauf's last over produced 16 runs. Australia posted 231/9 on the board.
Pakistan suffer batting collapse
Ellis did not waste much time to strike. He knocked over Maaz Sadaqat for a golden duck. From the other end, left-arm spinner got the wicket of Sahibzada Farhan as Adam Zampa pulled off a spectacular catch. After the openers departed, Babar Azam got out lbw to Ellis for a run-a-ball 16. Short was introduced in the eighth over and he knocked over Agha. In his third over, Short got Abdul Samad out caught and bowled. Pakistan lost half the side for 58 in the 12th over. After five boundary-less overs, Ghori got bowled by Zampa for a 48-ball 37. Hosts lost six wickets for 78 in the 17th over.
Cramped-up Shadab lacks support
Shadab and Minhas tried to get Pakistan back on track in the run chase. In the 28th over, Minhas got a reprieve as Peake dropped his catch off Zampa's bowling. Ellis was brought back into the attack and he delivered with Minhas' wicket. He scored 33 runs from 43 balls. Shadab took control of the run chase, hitting sixes. He reached his fifty from 76 balls in the 36th over. Then, Inglis handed the ball to Short. Afridi hit him for a couple of fours before an outside edge was caught by wicketkeeper Inglis.
Shadab suffered cramps and needed medical attention. In the 42nd over, Rauf had a reprieve as the lbw appeal was turned down off Tanveer Sangha's bowling and review wasn't taken. Meanwhile, Shadab continued the fight. In the 44th over, Ellis struck again, dismissing Rauf for a 15-ball duck. He picked up his maiden four-fer in ODI cricket. On the first ball of the 45th over, Shadab was stumped out by Inglis, ending Pakistan's homes of chasing down the target. Shadab departed for 71 off 104 balls and Pakistan were bowled out for 190, losing the match by 41 runs.
Ellis was named 'Player of the match'. The final of the ODI series will take place at the same venue on June 4.
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