Pak vs Aus 2nd ODI 2026: Pakistan vs Australia ODI Series 2026

The Big Picture

Australia bounced back from a tough defeat to level the three-match ODI series against Pakistan with a convincing 41-run win in the Pak vs Aus 2nd ODI 2026. Playing under the lights at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the visitors posted 231/9 in 50 overs before dismissing Pakistan for 190 in 44 overs.

Shadab Khan’s gutsy 71 off 104 balls gave Pakistan fans a brief glimpse of hope, but Nathan Ellis was simply too good. The fast bowler’s four-wicket haul (4/33) sealed the deal and earned him the Player of the Match award. The series now moves to a winner-takes-all 3rd ODI at the same Gaddafi Stadium venue on June 4, 2026.

For cricket fans looking for the Pak vs Aus live score, match report, player stats, and everything about the Pak vs Aus ODI 2026 series, this is your complete guide.

Match Details at a Glance

Australia’s Innings: A Gritty 231/9

Pakistan won the toss and put Australia in to bat — the same approach that worked in Rawalpindi. But this time, Australia found a way to make it count.

Catastrophic Start, Brilliant Recovery

Things looked awful for Australia from ball one. Shaheen Shah Afridi — Pakistan’s captain and spearhead — bowled Alex Carey off the very first delivery of the match. The ball stopped on the surface, shaped away late, and Carey got an inside edge that rolled onto his stumps. Incredible, dramatic, and a sign that Pakistan meant business.

But that is where Pakistan’s early dominance ended.

Josh Inglis and Matthew Short steadied the innings, putting on a partnership before Short was dismissed at 46/2 in the 8th over. Inglis continued, carefully rebuilding alongside Marnus Labuschagne. When Labuschagne fell at 51/3 in the 11th over, Cameron Green walked in — and what followed was the partnership of the match.

Inglis and Green — The Series-Changing Stand

Inglis and Green batted through the difficult middle period with intelligence and discipline. Inglis reached his fifty off just 71 balls (with 5 fours), while Green took his time before launching into the spinners. Green brought up his half-century from 85 balls (1 four, 2 sixes) as the duo built a massive, match-defining partnership.

Inglis finally fell at 102/4 in the 26th over. Green continued until 167/5 in the 40th over. By then, Australia had enough of a platform to push hard in the final ten overs.

Oliver Peake Finishes with a Bang

Matt Renshaw held the middle together after Green’s departure, and Oliver Peake provided late fireworks with what was described as a “blitzkrieg” at the end. Australia lost wickets in quick succession late — Matthew Kuhnemann at 202/7, Ellis at 215/8, and Peake at 231/9 on the last ball — but the damage was already done.

231 in these conditions, against this Pakistan attack, was a competitive and ultimately match-winning total.

Pakistan Bowling in the 2nd ODI

Shaheen Afridi was the standout with 3/36 from 8 overs — economical and dangerous. Arafat Minhas again impressed with 2/27. But the rest of Pakistan’s bowling attack could not control the damage.

Australia’s Fall of Wickets (Batting)

Pakistan’s Chase: Collapse, Then Shadab’s Heroics

Needing 232 from 50 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium — not an impossible target, but tough given how spin-heavy conditions can be in Lahore under lights — Pakistan’s chase began disastrously.

Top Order in Freefall — Again

Maaz Sadaqat went for a first-ball duck. Sahibzada Farhan managed just 3. Babar Azam — Pakistan’s best and most reliable batter — scratched around for 16 before being dismissed. By the 16th over, Pakistan were in a desperate position at 75/5.

This is the moment that cost Pakistan the match. Their top four contributed almost nothing to the chase.

Shadab Khan — The Lone Warrior

What followed was one of the more heartwarming individual performances of this series. Shadab Khan, Pakistan’s wily leg-spinning all-rounder, strode in at number eight and proceeded to construct a knock of genuine quality — 71 from 104 balls, including 1 four and 3 sixes.

With Ghazi Ghori (37) at the other end early on, Shadab kept Pakistan alive. He then rebuilt with Arafat Minhas (29 from 35 balls) in a fifty-run partnership off 82 balls. When that stand ended, Pakistan still needed 43 from 36 balls — difficult, but not impossible with Shadab in full flow.

Then came Nathan Ellis.

Nathan Ellis Breaks Pakistan’s Heart

A hard-length delivery on the stumps. Haris Rauf — not a tailender you’d normally write off — moved to the back foot and failed to get inside the line. The ball sneaked through the gate and broke the stumps. Pakistan’s resistance effectively ended there.

Tanveer Sangha then accounted for Shadab, stumped brilliantly by Inglis — a moment of sharp thinking behind the stumps. Abrar Ahmed at No. 11 could not do the impossible, and Pakistan were bowled out for 190 in the 44th over.

41 runs — the margin. Competitive, but decisive.

Pakistan’s Fall of Wickets (Batting Chase)

Pakistan were 75/5 after 16 overs and never recovered. The total of 190 fell well short of the 232-run target.

Player of the Match: Nathan Ellis — 4/33

Nathan Ellis was the difference. The right-arm fast-medium bowler from Tasmania is often underrated in conversations about Australia’s pace attack, but on this night in Lahore he was the main man.

His four wickets for just 33 runs were not just economical — they were decisive. He removed Haris Rauf at a critical juncture when Pakistan were building towards a finish and then cleaned up the tail with clinical efficiency. Ellis bowled with pace, found movement off the surface, and used the hard-length consistently.

This was his most impactful ODI performance in Pakistan and one of the key reasons Australia leveled this series.

Playing XIs — Pak vs Aus 2nd ODI 2026

Australia XI

1. Alex Carey
2. Matthew Short
3. Josh Inglis (wk/c)
4. Marnus Labuschagne
5. Cameron Green
6. Matt Renshaw
7. Oliver Peake
8. Matthew Kuhnemann
9. Nathan Ellis
10. Tanveer Sangha
11. Adam Zampa

Pakistan XI

1. Sahibzada Farhan
2. Maaz Sadaqat
3. Babar Azam
4. Ghazi Ghori (wk)
5. Arafat Minhas
6. Salman Agha
7. Abdul Samad
8. Shadab Khan
9. Shaheen Shah Afridi (c)
10. Haris Rauf
11. Abrar Ahmed

Full Squads — Pak vs Aus ODI Series 2026

Australia Squad

Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa

Note: Several Australian frontliners — including Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc — were unavailable due to the concurrent IPL 2026 season. This makes Australia’s series-leveling performance even more impressive.

Pakistan Squad

Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori, Arafat Minhas, Salman Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Rohail Nazir, Naseem Shah, Ahmed Daniyal, Sufyan Moqim, Shamyl Hussain

Series So Far — Pak vs Aus 2026 ODI Series

1st ODI: Pakistan Won by 5 Wickets (May 30, Rawalpindi)

The series opener at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was historic — it was Pakistan’s 1,000th ODI as a nation. Pakistan, who played their first ODI against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1973, marked the milestone in style. They restricted Australia to 200 and then chased it down in 42.3 overs, reaching 202/5 with 45 balls to spare. Pakistan’s spinners took 8 wickets in that match and completely outclassed the Australian batters on a slow Rawalpindi surface.

2nd ODI: Australia Won by 41 Runs (June 2, Lahore)

Australia came back hard. They adapted their batting game-plan, built partnerships in the middle overs rather than trying to slog from the start, and posted 231/9. Pakistan’s top order collapsed again (75/5 in 16 overs), and despite Shadab Khan’s brave 71, they fell 41 runs short.

Series Scoreline: 1-1

What Competitors Are Getting Wrong — What This Series Is Really About

Most match reports are covering the surface-level numbers. Here is what the deeper story of this Pak vs Aus ODI match series tells us:

1. Pakistan’s Batting Crisis Is Structural, Not Just Form

In both ODIs, Pakistan’s top three — Farhan, Sadaqat, and Babar — have collectively failed to provide a solid foundation. In the 2nd ODI, the trio contributed just 19 runs between them while chasing 232. This is not a one-off; it is a pattern. Pakistan need their middle order to fire every single game because the top order keeps collapsing, and in high-pressure knockouts — like the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup — that equation is not sustainable.

2. Australia Adapted Between Games — Pakistan Didn’t

Australia fundamentally changed how they played spin between the 1st and 2nd ODI. In Rawalpindi they were bowled out for 200 by Pakistan’s spinners. In Lahore, on a similar surface, they posted 231/9 with better middle-overs discipline, letting Inglis and Green build a match-winning stand before attacking at the end. Pakistan, by contrast, played the same way and got the same result. Their plans did not evolve.

3. Australia Have Not Won an ODI Series in Pakistan Since 1998

That is nearly three decades of failing to win a series on Pakistani soil. This 2026 Australia team — patched up, without their full-strength XI — is still alive to change history on June 4. That is the real drama of this series.

4. Shadab Khan Is Pakistan’s Best Batting Option Right Now

At No. 8, Shadab scored 71 against a quality Australian attack. The alarming takeaway? The best innings of Pakistan’s chase came from their number eight batter. Pakistan need Shadab higher in the order — or they need to seriously address why their recognized top-order batters keep failing.

3rd ODI Preview — June 4, 2026 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

The Pak vs Aus 3rd ODI 2026 is scheduled for Thursday, June 4 at 4:30 PM PKT (11:30 AM GMT) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. It is the series decider. Winner takes all.

What to Expect

Conditions: Gaddafi Stadium under lights has been favorable for bowling in the powerplay and the back end. Spinners tend to be effective in the middle overs, as both matches have shown.

Pakistan Changes? Pakistan are likely to keep Shadab in the XI given his impact with the bat. There are questions around Abdul Samad’s role. Most importantly, will the selectors or management address the top-order problem before Thursday, or will they field the same XI?

Australia Changes? Australia have limited incentive to change a team that just won by 41 runs. Ellis, Sangha, and Green will again be key to their chances.

Key Matchup to Watch: Nathan Ellis vs Shadab Khan. If Pakistan are to win this series, Shadab will need to come in and play a major innings again — and Ellis will be hunting him down.

Australia’s Incentive

Australia have not won an ODI series in Pakistan since 1998. That is 27 years. A victory in the 3rd ODI on June 4 would end that drought and send a significant statement ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup, even with a weakened squad.

Pakistan’s Incentive

Pakistan’s home fans want a series win. The Gaddafi Stadium faithful have been loyal and passionate, and after the buzz of the 1000th ODI milestone in Rawalpindi, they want silverware in Lahore. Pakistan’s batting unit knows it has to do better — and the pressure of a decider may be exactly what unlocks a better performance.

Pak vs Aus Players — Key Names to Watch in the Series

Pakistan

• Shaheen Shah Afridi (c): Devastating with the ball in the 2nd ODI — 3/36 from 8 overs. His leadership and pace are Pakistan’s best weapons.
• Babar Azam: The world-class batter has been quiet in this series. A big innings from him in the decider could change everything.
• Shadab Khan: Pakistan’s most valuable player so far in this series with both bat (71 in 2nd ODI) and reliable leg-spin.
• Haris Rauf: Was expensive with the ball in the 2nd ODI but remains a genuine pace threat.
• Abrar Ahmed: The mystery spinner who troubled Australia in the 1st ODI.

Australia

• Josh Inglis (wk/c): Captain and key batter. His 50+ in the 2nd ODI was the anchor for Australia’s innings.
• Cameron Green: All-round impact — contributed a mature fifty in the 2nd ODI.
• Nathan Ellis: Player of the Match in the 2nd ODI (4/33). Australia’s enforcer with the ball.
• Tanveer Sangha: Leg-spin is always dangerous in Pakistan conditions and Sangha has fitted in well.
• Adam Zampa: Australia’s lead spinner and a persistent threat on sub-continental pitches.

Head-to-Head Record — Pakistan vs Australia ODIs

Pakistan and Australia have one of cricket’s oldest and most balanced rivalries in the ODI format. Historically, Australia have the edge with over 100 ODIs played between the two nations. However, in Pakistan specifically, Pakistan have dominated — Australia have not won a bilateral ODI series on Pakistani soil since 1998. This tour is Australia’s best opportunity in a generation to break that streak.

Recent ODI H2H (Pakistan soil):

• November 2024 (Australia): Pakistan won the 3-match ODI series 2-1
• March 2022 (Pakistan): Pakistan won the 3-match ODI series 2-1
• 2026 (Pakistan): Series ongoing — tied 1-1

FAQs — Pak vs Aus ODI 2026

Q: What was the result of the Pak vs Aus 2nd ODI 2026?

Australia won the 2nd ODI by 41 runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on June 2, 2026. Australia posted 231/9 and Pakistan were bowled out for 190.

Q: Who won the Player of the Match in the Pak vs Aus 2nd ODI?

Nathan Ellis of Australia won the Player of the Match award for his bowling figures of 4/33.

Q: What is the current series score in Pak vs Aus 2026?

The series is tied 1-1 after two matches. Pakistan won the 1st ODI by 5 wickets and Australia won the 2nd ODI by 41 runs.

Q: When and where is the Pak vs Aus 3rd ODI 2026?

The 3rd and deciding ODI is scheduled for June 4, 2026 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, starting at 4:30 PM PKT.

Q: Who scored the highest in the Pak vs Aus 2nd ODI for Pakistan?

Shadab Khan top-scored for Pakistan with 71 runs off 104 balls in a brave but ultimately unsuccessful chase.

Q: Who was Australia’s captain in the Pak vs Aus ODI 2026 series?

Josh Inglis captained Australia in the 2026 Pakistan ODI series, with several frontliners unavailable due to the concurrent IPL 2026 season.

Q: Who is Pakistan’s captain for the Pak vs Aus 2026 ODI series?

Shaheen Shah Afridi captained Pakistan in the 2026 ODI series against Australia.

Q: Where can I watch the Pak vs Aus live score?

Live scores for Pak vs Aus 2026 matches are available on ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, and the PCB’s official channels. For Pakistani viewers, PTV Sports provides official broadcast coverage.

Q: What channel is Pak vs Aus ODI 2026 on?

In Pakistan, the series is broadcast on PTV Sports. PslCircket International fans can follow on ESPNcricinfo for live text commentary and live scores.

Final Verdict

The Pak vs Aus 2nd ODI 2026 was a sharp, competitive contest that Australia won on merit. Their batting discipline in the middle overs — specifically the Inglis-Green partnership — built a total that proved to be just enough. Nathan Ellis then delivered when it mattered most with the ball.

Pakistan’s problem is not lack of talent. It is consistency at the top of the order. Shadab Khan’s 71 is almost a symbol of the imbalance — the same players who are supposed to score big in the top order keep failing, while the lower-order all-rounders carry them. That cannot continue in big tournaments.

The 3rd ODI on June 4 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is now one of the most anticipated matches of this Australian cricket calendar. Australia are chasing history. Pakistan are defending home pride. One team will leave with a series win. The other will have a lot of questions to answer going into the ICC ODI World Cup cycle.

Related Articles:

• Pak vs Aus 1st ODI 2026: Pakistan Win Historic 1,000th ODI by 5 Wickets