Australia claimed a 41-run victory over hosts Pakistan in the second ODI on Tuesday to set up a decisive third and final match of the series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.
Having lost the series opener in Rawalpindi by five wickets, the Baggy Green regrouped to put on a much-improved display in match two, which turned out to be not the run-fest that had been expected.
Instead, the game was decided by a spin-packed Aussie attack who dismissed the Green Stars for 190, with a more than honourable mention to the lone frontline pacer, Nathan Ellis, who led the way with 4-33 from nine overs.
Pakistan v Australia Tips Summary
Best Bet - Australia to win @ 2.20
Alternative Bet - Number of wickets caught under 10.5 @ 1.83
Bet Builder - Josh Inglis 30+ runs, Most sixes - Australia & Shaheen Afridi top Pakistan bowler @ 16.00
Pakistan v Australia Prediction
Best Bet - Australia to win @ 2.20
Having levelled the series at the Gaddafi Stadium, the Baggy Green can go on to claim victory in the decisive third and final match of the series, with a number of players having stepped up to the plate.
Ellis has now taken six wickets across the first two matches, leg-spinner Adam Zampa returned for game two and showed excellent control, Matt Short took three wickets with his off-spin and exciting young batter Ollie Peake made 31 on his international debut.
A continuation of those sorts of performances should see the tourists home in game three and allow them to move on to Bangladesh in a positive frame of mind.
The home batters have been far from impressive so far and Australia should have enough to get the job done on Thursday.
Alternative Bet - Number of wickets caught under 10.5 @ 1.83
You might expect there to be a high number of catches taken in this series, especially with spin bowlers ruling the roost and hoping to force mishits from batters looking to clear the ropes.
However, the series opener in Rawalpindi saw just five catches taken across the two innings, with a total of 15 wickets falling in the match.
Game two saw 19 wickets fall in total, but again only five of those came via catches, so, while they may not be too much value, backing under 10.5 catches in the third ODI seems like a relatively safe option.
Pakistan v Australia Bet Builder Tip
Josh Inglis 30+ runs
Most sixes - Australia
Shaheen Afridi top Pakistan bowler
Pays 16.00
Stand-in Australia skipper Josh Inglis has stood up to the challenge well, taking on the added responsibility as well as being a leading batter and wicketkeeper for the Baggy Green.
He made 51 in the game at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday and should be among the runs again two days later at the same venue.
The Aussies won the six count 4-3 in their victory in Lahore on Tuesday and they can repeat the trick in the series decider, especially when you consider that all three Pakistan sixes came from one batter - Shadab Khan.
Finally, add in home captain Shaheen Afridi to lead the way with the ball for his side, with the left-arm paceman having done so on Tuesday in taking 3-36, including Alex Carey with the first delivery of the match.
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Key Match Stats
Australia levelled the series with a 41-run win at the Gaddafi Stadium in the second ODI
Ollie Peake made 31 on his international debut on Tuesday, hitting two sixes in his innings
Shaheen Afridi has taken at least one wicket in each of his last six ODIs
Josh Inglis has passed 50 in three of his last six ODI innings
Record at Gaddafi Stadium between these two sides in ODIs is 5-4 in favour of Pakistan
Australia have won 72 of the total of 113 ODIs played against Pakistan
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
