PAK VS AUS - 2nd ODI, Australia tour of Pakistan, 2022

Two white ball games. Two different formats. Two succesful run-chases. You couldn't have asked for a better start to your weekend. Babar Azam is fast reinstating the tag of 'legend across all formats' and he is thrashing batting records for fun. Was a treat to watch him crack their highest successful run-chase in ODIs. What's better? He's done that in front of his home crowd. You, just cannot beat that feeling. Stuff of dreams, as some might say. On that vibrant note, this is Raju Peethala bidding goodbye on behalf of Abhinand Raghavendran, Venky and Hari S. The last and final ODI is on Saturday. Same place, same time. See you there!!

Babar Azam, Pakistan skipper and Player of the Match: The plan was to bat positively and bat in partnerships. When there are wickets in hand, it becomes easy towards the end and there won't be any pressure of the required rate. We gave 20 runs too many and hopefully we will do better in the next game. This is my hometown and it is a proud moment for me and the team. The overall effort from the team is very pleasing. last time we couldn't chase it down and today it was a complete team effort.

Aaron Finch, Australian skipper: I think that opening partnership set the foundation for Pakistan and Babar came in and played brilliantly. When you lose the toss, it doesn't make much of a difference. The wicket played really well throughout. I thought we did quite well with the ball and when Pakistan took the risks, it came off and it can happen in ODI cricket with only 4 fielders out during the middle overs.

Imam-ul-Haq: Thanks to the Almighty and my parents, It's just a process, I know my game and want to back myself and I worked very hard for this and it feels very special when all these things happen. It all comes down to the self belief and once we got into the middle overs and we had the plan that one has to get through that overs and luckily we were able to do that. There's always a margin of improvement for every batsman and I really appreciate all the criticism that we need to work on the strike-rate, but we really focus on what's said in the huddle and by the management and that's more important for us. In white ball cricket, once you get set, you get runs and quickly at that. Everybody knows our (Babar and I) friendship and it is from 2009 , and we know each other's game very well and we back each other. We have that belief that we can win matches, and when you play so much cricket together you know each other's weakness and strengths and that helps. Really needed the win for the team to boost up. They are a good batting and fielding side, and we really wanted to come on the right side of the result today.

23:09 Local Time, 18:09 GMT, 23:39 IST - Pakistan square the series 1-1 with a game to go: During the run-chase, the host broadcaster splashed a visual from the previous ODI which showed Babar Azam having a stern word with Imam-ul-Haq after he got out on 103 which also ended hopes for the hosts in pursuit of 314. Well, today they needed none of that. A 118-plus opening stand set things up perfectly for skipper Babar Azam who guided the chase with his ever-impressive composed approach, helping Imam stay calm and helping him claim his milestone while at it sans any hiccups. At no stage did Pakistan look like losing during the chase. It was that phenomenal. 118, 119, 80 - the respective partnership runs for the first three wickets and that tells you everything you need to know. Of course, led by the brilliant tons from Babar and Imam, Pakistan learnt from their mistakes and aced the chase to perfection. The brisk approach was very much evident throughout and never allowed Australia's premier bowler, Zampa, to settle in. And to imagine that they barely offered any chances makes the chase seem even more impressive....

Nathan Ellis to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, spanked down the ground and game over! Pakistan record their highest successful run-chase in ODIs. The crowd are absolutely ecstatic and the dressing room looks absolutely cock-a-hoop. This is the fifth highest total for Australia that ended up in a losing cause.

Nathan Ellis to Khushdil, 1 run, full on off, Khushdil drives to the left of mid-off and rushes through for a quick single

Nathan Ellis to Khushdil, SIX, juicy half-volley in the slot outside off and Khushdil's clubbed that for a monstrous six over long-on. Was a slower delivery and Khushdil picked the bones out of it.,...just a hit away....

Nathan Ellis to Khushdil, FOUR, high full toss wide of off, Khushdil slaps it over cover and the crowd go bonkers in Lahore....

Nathan Ellis to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, length delivery angled into the pads, Iftikhar looks to time the whip and picks out the fielder at fine leg to his left. Had he hit that hard, would have gone all the way for a maximum

Nathan Ellis to Iftikhar Ahmed, 2 runs, slower full delivery outside off, Iftikhar goes hard on the drive and slots it wide of sweeper cover to claim a couple of runs

15 needed from 12. Just a matter of 3 hits, that's how Pakistan would and should be thinking right now...

Abbott to Khushdil, no run, nails the yorker just outside off and Khushdil squeezes it into the leg-side

Abbott to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, full on the stumps, Iftikhar looks to go leg-side and gets a thick inside edge that rolls down to fine leg

Abbott to Khushdil, 1 run, low full toss on off, no pace and Khushdil's happy to push it down towards long-off

Abbott to Khushdil, SIX, that is a PSL special from Khushdil Shah. We have seen him do this a million times in that league. Full and right in the slot outside off, he marmalizes it into the mid-wicket orbit with an air of swagger...

Abbott to Khushdil, FOUR, full outside off, Khushdil picks the slower ball this time and slaps it back over the bowler's head for a one-bounce boundary

Abbott to Khushdil, no run, slower full delivery outside off, Khushdil clears his front leg and looks to slog it over mid-wicket. Beaten for lack of pace...

Sean Abbott [8.0-0-62-0] is back into the attack

27 needed from 18. Exactly 9 per over....