Shaheen takes three as Pakistan limit Australia to modest total

LAHORE: Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi’s three-wicket haul backed by Arafat Minhas and Abrar Ahmed’s two wickets, derailed Australia’s batting lineup in the second ODI at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Put into bat first, Australia could only muster 231-9 in their 50 overs with Josh Inglish and Cameron Green scoring fifties.

The visitors were jolted early as Shaheen Afridi castled opening batter Alex Carey for a golden duck. The left-hander’s chop on dismissal gave an early sign of what was coming on this dry surface.

After an early blow, Matthew Short and skipper Josh Inglis shared 46 runs on the second wicket. Short tried to capitalize on the fielding restrictions with a couple of boundaries.

However, once Abrar and Arafat were introduced into the attack, the visitors’ woes compounded.

Abrar first removed Short, who made 15 off 24 with the aid of two fours. Incoming batter Marnus Labuschagne fell prey to Minhas, caught by Salman Ali Agha on five.

Consequently, Australia were reduced to 51-3 at the end of the powerplay with Inglis and Cameron Green at the crease.

The duo tried to steady the innings, sharing a half-century stand. Both batters took the score over the 100-run mark, particularly Inglis, who remained solid at the crease and raised his half-century.

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But it was Arafat again, who broke the threatening stand with Inglis’ wicket, cleaning him up soon after the batter reached his fifty. He made 51 off 74, striking five fours.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, Matt Renshaw came to the fore and added a 65-run partnership with Green. The pair effectively managed to arrest the slide with Green completing his half-century.

The scorecard read 167 in the 40th over when Abrar removed Green, who made 53 off 92, including a four and two sixes.

After the wicket, Australia lost their way, a pattern they followed from the first ODI. Renshaw was also dismissed in the 44th over. The southpaw hit three fours in his 43 off 43 balls.

The innings quickly unraveled after, with the youngster Ollie Peake providing the late lift. The left-hander played a vital cameo of 31 off 32 balls, hitting two maximums and a four.

For Pakistan, Shaheen picked up three wickets while Arafat Minhas, Abrar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf shared six wickets between them.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Australia: Josh Inglis (c)(wk), Alex Carey, Matt Short, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Ollie Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Ellis

READ: Ghazi Ghori leaves field during second ODI against Australia