On a surface that one could have bet their bottom dollar would give nothing to pacers, Nathan Ellis was the highest wicket-taker for Australia, bagging four wickets. His spell was crucial in helping Australia win the second ODI by packing Pakistan up before they could reach the low 231-run target.
Different from traditional ODIs
The conditions in the country in this series have made batting a difficult job. It was evident in the first game as well, where despite dew Pakistan batters found run-scoring a somewhat challenging task.
Nathan thinks these conditions aren’t what one-days around the world get, but that doesn’t mean, he argued, that they are out of place.
“It looks a little bit different to the traditional one-day cricket we’re seeing around the world at the moment, but I do think there’s a place for it too,” said Nathan Ellis after the game where his 4-33 saw Australia get over the line.
Inglis and Green shift formats
He lauded his stand-in captain Josh Inglis and all-rounder Cameron Green for their brilliance with the bat during the second ODI. Green and Inglis both scored 50-plus scores, making it possible for the side to get over 200 runs on a demanding surface under the scorching Lahore sun.
The two players arrived fresh from the IPL, where they faced nothing remotely similar to the conditions in Lahore. In fact, the assistance in run-scoring was over the top and that too in a format where you don’t have to worry about building long partnerships.
“The patience they [Josh Inglis and Cameron Green] showed in a world where taking the game on and being positive is at the forefront, especially coming from where they’ve come from (in the IPL).”
Besides Green and Inglis, young batter Ollie Peake, who became the youngest Australian to debut as a specialist batter in ODIs earlier this series, scored a quick 31 runs off 32 balls. Peake’s innings helped Australia seal a total their captain said he was eyeing on such a demanding surface.
“The maturity and the patience they showed was brilliant,” Ellis continued. “It was probably match-winning. Then you add on top of that the youngster, Ollie Peake, his little cameo at the back end was brilliant and only just the start of the journey he’s been put on.”
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