BENGALURU: David Warner and Mitchell Marsh’s dominating centuries, followed by a disciplined bowling performance, led Australia to a thumping 62-run victory over Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2023 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Set to chase a daunting 368-run target, Pakistan could accumulate 305 in response, before being bundled out in the 46th over.
Pakistan got off to a solid start as their openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq also fired with both scoring half-centuries.
The pair took Pakistan to 134 unhurt in 21 before Marcus Stoinis struck on his very first delivery to break the shackles as he outclassed Abdullah with a short-pitched delivery.
The right-handed batter scored 64 in 61 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries and two sixes.
Stoinis then struck again in his next over to remove Imam and posted a major dent to Pakistan’s pursuit by removing both set batters in quick succession.
Imam remained the top scorer for Pakistan with a 71-ball 70, hitting 10 boundaries.
Out-of-form Adam Zampa soon strengthened Australia’s command by claiming the prized scalp of Pakistan captain Babar Azam (18), causing the green shirts to slip to 175/3 in 26.2 overs.
Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan then put together an anchoring 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Pat Cummins got rid of Saud, who scored 30 off 31.
Rizwan was then joined by Iftikhar Ahmed in the middle and he charged at the Australian bowlers before Zampa removed him in the 39th over.
Iftikhar scored a brisk 26 in 20 balls with the help of three sixes.
Zampa then struck again in his next over and got rid of Pakistan’s mainstay Mohammad Rizwan to put the five-time champions in complete control.
Rizwan remained a notable run-getter for Pakistan with a 40-ball 46 including five boundaries.
Australian bowlers then ran through their batting tail and soon booked Pakistan on 305 to taste their second consecutive victory, which lifted them to the fourth position in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Adam Zampa led the bowling attack for Australia with 4/53 in his 10, followed by two each from Stoinis and Pat Cummins while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood struck out a batter apiece.
Australia after being invited to bat by Pakistan captain Babar Azam, showed an early glimpse of the incoming onslaught with a six in the first over of Shaheen Afridi.
Usama Mir then dropped a simple catch in the fifth over to give David Warner a second life at 10.
Warner then led the onslaught with 40 off 29 in the first ten overs at a total of 82, while Mitchell Marsh scored 35 off 31.
Warner completed his half-century off 39 balls, while his partner took a ball more to reach the milestone.
Australia were at 149 without losing any wicket in 20 overs and looked set to breach the 400-run mark, however, spin bowlers Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz bowled tight lines to slow down the run flow.
However, they could not stop them for too long as David Warner raced to his fifth century in ODI World Cups and 21st overall in only 85 balls.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh also reached the milestone on the next ball, taking 99 deliveries.
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The 259-run devastating opening partnership finally came to an end in the 34th over during Shaheen Afridi’s first over of the second spell.
Mitchell Marsh smoked two sixes to welcome Afridi before being caught at short fine leg by Usama Mir. His 108-ball 121 featured ten boundaries and nine sixes.
Glenn Maxwell followed him on the next ball after bagging a golden duck.
Usama Mir then sent Steve Smith back to the pavilion before David Warner reached the 150-run mark in 116 balls with a six.
Haris Rauf, who gave 59 runs off his first four overs, returned to the attack and was welcomed with a six by David Warner however, the left-handed batter’s attempt to hit back-to-back sixes failed as he was caught at long-on.
David Warner played a brisk 163 runs innings in 124 balls with the help of 14 boundaries and nine sixes.
Australia were 325-4 in the 43rd over when Warner departed with the 400-run mark still in sight, however, Pakistani bowlers capitalized and took timely wickets to restrict them to 367-9 in their accumulated 50 overs.
Marcus Stoinis (21) and Josh Inglis (13) were the only batters to reach double figures after the openers’ onslaught.
Shaheen Afridi picked five wickets for 54 runs, while Haris Rauf gave away 83 runs in eight overs to pick three wickets.
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