Overview
- Nathan Ellis was named Player of the Match after taking 4/33 as Australia defended 231 and beat Pakistan by 41 runs in the second ODI at Gaddafi Stadium.
- Ellis trapped captain Babar Azam lbw for 16, a wicket that helped spark Pakistan's collapse to 190 all out in 44 overs while chasing 232 on Tuesday.
- Ellis has now dismissed Babar three times in ODIs, conceding 68 runs in 61 deliveries against him, a record that has sharpened the media focus on their matchup.
- Players and reporters pointed to the dry, dusty Lahore surface and reverse swing as factors that helped bowlers, and Ellis said he adapted to the conditions rather than executing a special plan for Babar.
- The defeat has increased public scrutiny of Babar's recent white-ball inconsistency and lower ICC ranking since 2023 and makes the third ODI a decisive contest for both sides.