Ellis, Short shine as Pakistan collapse; ODI series levelled
By Nawaz Gohar ; The Gaddafi Stadium, usually a fortress of noise and defiance, fell silent on Tuesday night as Pakistan’s formidable batting lineup crumbled spectacularly, gifting Australia a crucial 41-run victory in the second One Day International.
The loss, defined by a familiar and frustrating batting capitulation, now sets up a high-stakes series decider after Australia levelled the three-match series at 1-1.
Defending what many considered a modest target of 231, Australia executed a bowling masterclass, led by the precision of Nathan Ellis and the tactical spin of Matthew Short. Pakistan, chasing 232 for glory, were bundled out for a disappointing 190 in just 44 overs.
The only resistance came from Shadab Khan, whose heroic, almost single-handed effort of 71 runs was a beacon in an otherwise dark performance. Shadab’s fighting innings (71 off 104 balls, including three towering sixes and a boundary) was an exercise in gritty determination, but it ultimately proved insufficient to rescue a sinking ship.
The chase began disastrously and never truly recovered. Nathan Ellis struck a mortal blow in the very first over, removing Maaz Sadaqat for a duck. The pressure intensified immediately. Matthew Kuhnemann then silenced the crowd by dismissing Sahibzada Farhan, leaving Pakistan reeling at a perilous 6-2.
The ultimate shockwave arrived when Ellis trapped Pakistan’s linchpin, Babar Azam, lbw for just 16. It was a breakthrough that sucked the air out of the stadium. Matthew Short then compounded Pakistan’s misery, dismissing Salman Agha and Abdul Samad as the hosts slumped further to 58-5.
Amidst the debris, Ghazi Ghori provided a composed 37-run stand with Shadab, bringing some stability. However, Adam Zampa broke the partnership in the 17th over, reducing Pakistan to 78-6. Arafat Minhas contributed a valuable, albeit temporary, 33 runs before becoming Ellis’s third victim.
Shadab continued to wage a lone battle, showcasing his prowess with the bat, but found no support. Ellis, the undisputed hero of the Australian defense, finished with outstanding figures of 4-33, while Short claimed 3-36. Kuhnemann, Zampa, and Tanveer Sangha chip in with a wicket each to complete the rout.
Earlier, Pakistan’s captain, Shaheen Afridi, won the toss and elected to field, a decision that initially paid rich dividends. In a dream start, Shaheen cleaned-bowled Alex Carey with the very first ball of the match. Australia found themselves in deeper trouble at 51-3 when Abrar Ahmed accounted for Short and Arafat Minhas dismissed Marnus Labuschagne.
However, Australian captain Josh Inglis steadied the ship with a measured 51 from 74 balls before Minhas broke his resistance. Cameron Green then anchored the middle order with a solid 53, sharing vital partnerships with Inglis and Matt Renshaw, who added a brisk 43.
A useful late-innings cameo of 31 from Oliver Peake helped Australia cross the 230-mark, finishing on 231-9. Shaheen Afridi led the Pakistani bowling effort with commendable figures of 3-36, supported by two wickets apiece from Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, and Haris Rauf.
With the series now locked at 1-1, all eyes turn to the third and final ODI at the same venue, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the series.
