Australia leveled the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan with a 41-run victory in the second match held on Tuesday in Lahore. The win set up a deciding third ODI, also scheduled to take place in Lahore on Thursday.

Australia, fielding a side missing several frontline players such as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, posted a total of 231 for nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Key contributions came from Josh Inglis, who scored 51 runs off 74 balls, and Cameron Green, who made 53 off 92 deliveries. The duo added a steady partnership after Australia lost early wickets, helping the team recover from 51 for three. Matthew Renshaw added 43 runs, and Oliver Peake contributed a rapid 31 runs off 32 balls to bolster the innings towards the end.

Australia’s fast bowler Nathan Ellis, playing a crucial role, claimed his career-best figures of four wickets for 33 runs. Ellis made early inroads by dismissing Pakistan’s opener Maaz Sadaqat on the third ball of the innings and later took the key wicket of captain Babar Azam, who scored 16. Part-time spinner Matthew Short provided vital support with three wickets for 36 runs.

Pakistan’s innings faltered despite a determined effort from all-rounder Shadab Khan, who top-scored with a patient 71 runs off 104 balls. Shadab’s innings included three sixes and a boundary, and he managed to stabilize the innings after Pakistan lost quick wickets early on. He shared significant stands of 59 runs with Arafat Minhas, who scored 33, and 31 runs with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who contributed 11. However, Shadab was the last batsman dismissed, stumped off Tanveer Sangha’s wide ball.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also took three wickets for 36 runs, expressed disappointment over the final overs in which Pakistan conceded 20 to 30 extra runs, ultimately costing them the match. He acknowledged the pressure of losing early wickets, which made the chase difficult. Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by Shaheen and spinners Abrar Ahmed and Minhas, initially used spin effectively, removing some key Australian batsmen early on. Abrar took two wickets for 27 runs, including that of Green, who was caught as Pakistan pushed back.

The first ODI of the series was won by Pakistan by five wickets in Rawalpindi, making the upcoming match in Lahore a crucial decider for both sides. Australian captain Josh Inglis praised the collective team effort led by Ellis and highlighted the bowler’s variations and control on the pitch. The series remains finely poised going into the final encounter.