Pakistan’s despair after the defeat to India was further deepened as it was beaten by a ruthless Australia by 62 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Friday.
Chasing a mammoth 368, the classy opening pair of Abdullah Shafique (64, 61b, 7x4, 2x6) and Imam-ul-Haq (70, 71b, 10x4) put on 134. Australia didn’t help themselves by some below-par fielding; Shafique was let off by Sean Abott at deep mid-wicket on 27 while Imam by Pat Cummins on 48.
Australia vs Pakistan: as it happened
But with three inspired bowling changes and a stunning catch at short mid-wicket to dismiss Babar Azam off Adam Zampa, Cummins left his imprint. Marcus Stoinis struck first ball after being brought on in the 22nd over, forcing Shafique to top-edge to Glenn Maxwell.
With Pakistan looking good at 231 for three after 34 overs, Cummins came back in to send back Saud Shakeel.
And when No.6 Iftikhar Ahmed threatened to rekindle Pakistan’s pursuit by smashing Cummins and Stoinis for three sixes in five balls, Zampa prised him out leg-before four deliveries after being re-introduced.
Mohammad Rizwan being trapped in front by Zampa with nearly 100 runs needed doused all hope.
Asked to bat first, Australia rode on a scintillating partnership between David Warner (163, 124b, 14x4, 9x6) and Mitchell Marsh (121, 108b, 10x4, 9x6). The 259-run association was the second-best for the opening wicket in World Cups and the best-ever for any wicket in ODIs in Bengaluru.
But the stand would have been a non-starter if Warner had been caught by Usama Mir at mid-on off Shaheen Afridi when still on 10. Having been reprieved, Warner smashed the ball around, with the ramp shots behind square catching the eye.
Marsh’s innings was relatively chanceless, and the birthday boy was aided by some insipid bowling. The Men in Green never found the right length, landing it too short or too full. Haris Rauf and Mir (in for Shadab) collectively bled 165 runs from 17 overs.
When Warner and Marsh brought up their hundreds in the 31st over, Australia was past 200. When Shafique grassed Warner again, on 105, it felt like the evening couldn’t go worse.
However, the re-introduction of Afridi (5/54) stemmed the rot slightly. The left-armer excised Marsh and Maxwell off successive deliveries.
Old habits die hard and Pakistan was back to bowling some inane stuff, and with a monstrous six over mid-wicket, Warner reached 150. His dismissal triggered a collapse as Australia accumulated just 42 runs from the last 46 balls. The mountain of runs, though, was enough to bury Pakistan.
Records galore during Australia’s inning
Some of the records created during the Australian innings:
- It is the fourth instance of both openers scoring centuries in a World Cup game and the first for Australia.
- The stand of 259 between Warner and Marsh is the second-highest opening partnership in the competition's history, and the best for Australia.
- It is Warner's fourth consecutive ODI ton against Pakistan and the joint most by any player against a side in the format, equalling Virat Kohli (4 vs West Indies).
- It is also Warner's fifth hundred in the World Cup, equalling the most by an Australian, alongside Ricky Ponting.
- Marsh has become the sixth player to smash an ODI century on his birthday, besides being the first Aussie to do so. He is also the second birthday boy to strike a World Cup ton after Ross Taylor.
- With Warner and Marsh's 200-plus partnership in the game, Australia have tied India for most such stands in the World Cup history (five occasions each).
