LAHORE: Pakistan produced a commanding bowling performance to bowl Australia out for 231 runs in the second ODI of the Australia tour of Pakistan, being played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.
An all-round bowling effort from Pakistan as Australia have been restricted to 231-9 🏏
We’ll be back shortly with the chase 🎯
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Watch Live:… pic.twitter.com/4uQ5SChLfJ— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 2, 2026
After winning the toss and electing to field first, Pakistan’s bowlers justified the decision with a disciplined display across all 50 overs, never allowing the Australian innings to gain any real momentum. The visitors finished on 231/9, a total that Pakistan will back themselves to chase down under lights.
Early blow from Shaheen sets the tone
The innings could not have started worse for Australia. On the very first ball of the match, Alex Carey was bowled for a golden duck by Shaheen Shah Afridi, a stunning delivery that crashed into the top of off stump. Australia were 1-0 after 0.1 overs, and the pressure was immediate.
Skipper Shaheen Afridi is right on target! ⚡
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Matthew Short and skipper Josh Inglis attempted to rebuild, adding 46 runs for the second wicket. However, Short’s aggressive innings of 15 off 24 balls ended when he was caught and bowled by Abrar Ahmed in the 8th over.
Inglis and Green fight, but Pakistan strike at key moments
Josh Inglis played a patient captain’s knock of 51 off 74 balls, but he never truly dominated. His dismissal in the 27th over, bowled by left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, left Australia wobbling at 102/4.
Cameron Green, who top-scored for Australia with 53 off 92 balls including one four and two sixes, tried to anchor the innings. He found support from Matt Renshaw (43 off 43 balls) and Oliver Peake (31 off 32 balls), but Pakistan’s bowlers kept striking at regular intervals.
Green was eventually caught by Sahibzada Farhan off Abrar Ahmed in the 40th over, ending a 65-run partnership with Renshaw and triggering a lower-order collapse.
Late Flourish but No Launchpad
Peake provided some late entertainment with two sixes in his 31-ball 31, but Haris Rauf removed both Renshaw (43) and Peake (31) to finish with figures of 2/49 from his 10 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of the bowlers, returning excellent figures of 3/36 from 8 overs, including the crucial wickets of Carey, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Nathan Ellis. Arafat Minhas (2/27 from 10 overs) and Abrar Ahmed (2/34 from 10 overs) were economical and incisive, tying down Australia’s middle order.
For Australia, Nathan Ellis (5 off 9) and Matthew Kuhnemann (5 off 12) offered little resistance, while Adam Zampa remained unbeaten on 0. The visitors lost their ninth wicket on the final ball of the innings when Peake was bowled by Rauf.
Chase ahead
With Australia posting a below-par 231/9, Pakistan require 232 runs for victory at a required run rate of just 4.64 per over.
Pakistan’s openers will look to build a solid foundation under lights, with the pitch expected to remain true for batting. All eyes will now turn to the hosts’ batting lineup as they seek a 2-0 lead in the series.
