Australia’s dynamic duo, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, showcased their remarkable skills, forging an imposing opening partnership that paved the way for a resounding 62-run triumph against Pakistan in Bengaluru.
Warner, in his sublime form, amassed a breathtaking 163 runs, while Marsh contributed a stellar 121, propelling Australia to a formidable total of 367/9.
Their extraordinary partnership, amassing 259 runs, etched its name in history as the second-highest opening stand in the annals of the Men’s Cricket World Cup and set an Australian record at the tournament.
Although Shaheen Shah Afridi’s five-wicket haul briefly threatened to restrict Australia’s scoring frenzy, the target remained within Pakistan’s reach at 367.
Pakistan’s opening batsmen initiated a valiant chase, but the sheer magnitude of the target soon proved to be a formidable challenge. In the latter part of the innings, Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis inflicted considerable damage, orchestrating a flurry of wickets.
This resounding victory marks Australia’s remarkable resurgence in the tournament after a shaky start, leveling them with Pakistan at four points, firmly in contention for a coveted semi-final spot.
Australia seized the opportunity presented by a favorable batting wicket, chosen to bat first by Babar Azam. Early in the innings, a confident leg-before appeal against David Warner was denied, with a subsequent review revealing an inside edge.
Warner’s escape from Usama Mir’s missed catch on just 10 proved pivotal as he powered on, notably hitting a spectacular six off Haris Rauf’s first over, igniting the stands. Pakistan’s spinners struggled to contain the openers, as Warner and Marsh continued to flourish.
The scoring tempo escalated in the second half of the innings, with Warner and Marsh accumulating 87 runs from 52 balls. Shaheen Shah Afridi finally provided a breakthrough for Pakistan, dismissing Marsh for a remarkable 121.
Glenn Maxwell’s promotion to number three saw him attempting to loft the pacer, but he fell to Babar at mid-on. Australia’s sensational start set the stage, but their middle order faltered, with Steven Smith departing for seven runs.
Warner threatened to surpass his highest ODI score but was ultimately caught off Haris Rauf’s delivery, concluding his magnificent innings at 163.
Pakistan’s recovery, inspired by Rauf and Shaheen, saw Josh Inglis as the only batsman able to maintain a run-a-ball strike rate in the final 12 overs.
The pace duo of Shaheen and Rauf relentlessly dismantled Australia’s tail, with Shaheen taking two wickets in consecutive balls twice. He completed his ten overs with figures of 5/54, while Rauf rebounded well, ending with 3/83.
Although Australia’s total of 367/9 posed a daunting challenge for any team, they hoped to extend their lead after their remarkable opening partnership.
Pakistan’s chase commenced impressively, with Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq capitalizing on loose deliveries, particularly from Mitchell Starc, who conceded 28 runs in his first three overs.
The scoring rate slowed as Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa tightened the screws, while Australia missed a crucial chance off Pat Cummins’ bowling.
The century partnership between the openers arrived in the 17th over. Marcus Stoinis made a game-changing impact, dismissing Shafique for 64 with his very first delivery.
Stoinis struck again, removing Imam-Ul-Haq for 70, leaving Pakistan at 154/2 as the innings approached its midpoint. Both openers would regret not capitalizing further on their promising starts, Imam’s 70 runs coming from 71 balls.
Pakistan relied on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to drive them into the death overs, attempting to exploit Australia’s fifth and sixth bowling options.
Adam Zampa, however, claimed the pivotal wicket of Captain Babar for just 18 runs, pushing Pakistan’s required scoring rate to almost nine runs per over with 20 overs remaining.
Zampa’s brilliance continued to disrupt Pakistan’s approach in the final ten overs. He dismissed the dangerous Iftikhar Ahmed for 26 and secured the crucial scalp of Rizwan for 46. Zampa had Mohammad Nawaz stumped with his final ball, concluding his impressive spell with figures of 4/53.
Usama Mir, making his World Cup debut, had a forgettable day, with a costly nine-over spell and a dropped catch off Warner.
His batting contribution was minimal, ending in a three-ball duck as Pakistan’s chase faded away. Australia’s pacers returned to clean up the tail, bowling Pakistan out for 305 with 27 balls to spare.
This victory allowed Australia to narrowly edge past Pakistan in the table based on net run rate, with both teams firmly in contention for a semi-final spot, shaping up an exciting race for qualification.
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