Australia bounced back in style to defeat Pakistan by 41 runs in the second ODI of the Australia tour of Pakistan 2026 at the Gaddafi Stadium. After suffering a five-wicket defeat in the series opener, the visitors produced a disciplined all-round performance to level the three-match series 1-1 and force a winner-takes-all contest in the final ODI on June 4.
Asked to bat first after Pakistan elected to bowl, Australia posted a competitive total of 231/9 in their allotted 50 overs. The innings was anchored by Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, who scored half-centuries under challenging conditions. Pakistan’s bowlers kept the scoring rate in check for most of the innings, but Australia managed to build enough partnerships to put a respectable total on the board.
Josh Inglis and Cameron Green rescue Australia after early setbacks
Australia endured a disastrous start when Alex Carey was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Shaheen Afridi. Matthew Short and Inglis attempted to rebuild, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Short made 15 while Marnus Labuschagne contributed only five runs.
Inglis held the innings together with a patient 51 off 74 deliveries, striking five boundaries. He found excellent support from Green, who compiled a composed 53 from 92 balls, including two sixes. The pair steadied the innings and ensured Australia recovered from their early troubles.
Late contributions from Matt Renshaw and Ollie Peake further boosted the total. Renshaw played an aggressive knock of 43 off 43 balls, while Peake added a valuable 31 from 32 deliveries with two sixes. Their efforts helped Australia cross the 230-run mark despite Pakistan’s disciplined bowling.
Shaheen Afridi was Pakistan’s standout bowler with figures of 3/36 from eight overs. Arafat Minhas and Abrar Ahmed picked up two wickets each, while Haris Rauf also claimed two scalps.
Nathan Ellis leads Australian bowling masterclass
Chasing 232 for victory, Pakistan’s innings got off to the worst possible start. Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat were dismissed inside the opening over, leaving the hosts under immediate pressure. Babar Azam showed positive intent but fell for 16, while Salman Agha and Abdul Samad also failed to make significant contributions.
Young batter Ghazi Ghori fought hard with a fluent 37, but Pakistan kept losing wickets at crucial intervals. The responsibility then fell on captain Shadab Khan, who produced a determined innings of 71 from 104 balls. His knock, featuring three sixes, kept Pakistan’s hopes alive despite the mounting pressure.
Arafat Minhas supported Shadab with a useful 33, and the pair briefly revived the chase. However, Australia’s bowlers maintained control and never allowed Pakistan to build sustained momentum. Once Minhas departed, the visitors tightened their grip on the match.
Nathan Ellis delivered the decisive blows and finished with outstanding figures of 4/33 from nine overs to earn the Player of the Match award. Matthew Short impressed with the ball as well, claiming 3/36, while Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann and Tanveer Sangha chipped in with a wicket each. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 190 in 44 overs, handing Australia a convincing 41-run victory.
With Pakistan winning the opening ODI by five wickets and Australia responding emphatically in the second match, the series now stands level at 1-1. The third and final ODI, scheduled for June 4 at the Gaddafi Stadium, will determine the winner of the series and promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched sides.
