LAHORE: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed confidence that his side can recover from their second ODI defeat and clinch the series against Australia in the decisive final match at Gaddafi Stadium.
According to Beyond Time News, Shaheen admitted that Pakistan’s failure to control the closing stages of Australia’s innings and the loss of early wickets during the chase played a major role in the team’s 41-run defeat on Tuesday.
Extra Runs Proved Costly, Says Shaheen
Speaking after the match, Shaheen acknowledged that Pakistan allowed Australia to score crucial runs in the final overs.
He said those additional runs ultimately made the difference between the two sides.
“We conceded around 20 to 30 extra runs towards the end, which proved costly,” the Pakistan captain said.
He added that losing wickets early in the chase increased pressure on the batting lineup and made the target more difficult to achieve.
Challenging Pitch Conditions Tested Batters
Shaheen also highlighted the nature of the Gaddafi Stadium pitch, describing it as a surface that offered assistance to spinners and demanded patience from batters.
He explained that batting was not straightforward, particularly during the first innings.
The skipper praised Australia’s disciplined bowling attack, especially fast bowler Nathan Ellis, whose accuracy and consistent line troubled Pakistan’s batters throughout the innings.
According to Shaheen, Ellis’ stump-to-stump bowling strategy allowed him to extract maximum benefit from the conditions.
Pakistan Focused on Series-Deciding Clash
Despite the setback, Shaheen remained optimistic about Pakistan’s chances in the final ODI.
He stressed that the team would quickly move on from the defeat and focus on preparing for the series decider.
With only a short break between matches, the captain said the players would concentrate on correcting key areas without dwelling excessively on mistakes.
Pakistan and Australia will meet again at the same venue on Thursday, with the three-match series level at 1-1.
Reverse Swing Opportunity Missed
Shaheen also discussed the behavior of the ball during the match.
He noted that bowling straight and targeting the stumps proved effective on the Lahore surface because there was limited conventional swing available.
The Pakistan captain revealed that his bowlers began to find some reverse swing later in the innings. However, a ball change reduced the opportunity to exploit those conditions fully.
According to him, the team could not take full advantage of the older ball when it started offering additional assistance.
Read more:Shaheen Afridi Hails Arafat Minhas and Ghazi Ghori After Pakistan’s Historic ODI Win Over Australia
Australia Level Series With Convincing Win
Australia produced a disciplined all-round performance to level the ODI series.
Chasing a target of 232, Pakistan were bowled out for 190 in 44 overs.
Vice-captain Shadab Khan led the resistance with a fighting 71 runs off 104 deliveries, including three sixes and one boundary.
However, the rest of the batting lineup struggled to build partnerships against Australia’s disciplined attack.
Nathan Ellis Stars With the Ball
Australian pacer Nathan Ellis delivered a match-winning spell, taking four wickets for 33 runs in nine overs.
All-rounder Matthew Short also played a key role, claiming three wickets to help restrict Pakistan’s chase.
Their performances ensured Australia bounced back strongly after losing the opening match of the series.
Conclusion
Pakistan now face a must-win encounter as they prepare for the final ODI against Australia. While Shaheen Afridi acknowledged his team’s mistakes in the second match, he remains confident that Pakistan can regroup and deliver a stronger performance in the series decider. Cricket fans can expect an intense contest as both teams battle for series victory in Lahore.
FAQs
Why did Pakistan lose the second ODI against Australia?
Shaheen Afridi said Pakistan conceded extra runs in the final overs and lost early wickets during the chase, which increased pressure on the team.
What was Pakistan’s target in the second ODI?
Pakistan needed 232 runs to win but were bowled out for 190.
Who was Pakistan’s top scorer?
Shadab Khan scored 71 runs and was Pakistan’s highest scorer in the match.
Who was Australia’s best bowler?
Nathan Ellis starred with the ball, taking four wickets for 33 runs.
When will the final ODI be played?
The series-deciding third ODI will take place on Thursday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
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