CWC 2023 Match 18: Australia best Pakistan in a high-scoring encounter

Australia are well and truly back in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. They registered their second win of the tournament as they thumped Pakistan by 62 runs.  The game took place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday night. Asked to bat first, they posted a total of 367 for nine and then bundled out the opposition for 305. 

Australia: 367-9 (50)

Fall of wickets: 1-259 (Mitchell Marsh-33.5 ov), 2-259 (Glenn Maxwell-33.6 ov), 3-284 (Steven Smith-38.1 ov), 4-325 (David Warner-42.2 ov), 5-339 (Josh Inglis-44.2 ov), 6-354 (Marcus Stoinis-47.1 ov), 7-360 (Marnus Labuschagne-48.3 ov), 8-363 (Mitchell Starc-49.1 ov), 9-363 (Josh Hazlewood-49.2 ov) 

Pakistan: 305 (45.3)

Fall of wickets: 1-134 (Abdullah Shafique-21.1 ov), 2-154 (Imam-ul-Haq-23.4 ov), 3-175 (Babar Azam-26.2 ov), 4-232 (Saud Shakeel-34.2 ov), 5-269 (Iftikhar Ahmed-38.5 ov), 6-274 (Mohammad Rizwan-40.5 ov), 7-277 (Usama Mir-41.5 ov), 8-287 (Mohammad Nawaz-42.6 ov), 9-301 (Hasan Ali-44.5 ov), 10-305 (Shaheen Shah Afridi-45.3 ov)

SCORECARD

Australia had a dream start with the bat as David Warner (163:124b, 14x4, 9x6) and Mitchell Marsh (121:108b, 10x4, 9x6) took Pakistan bowlers to the cleaners. They added a mammoth 259 runs for the opening partnership. The platform was set for the power hitters and it seemed that Australia would go past 400 runs. But Pakistan bowlers pulled back things staggeringly well. Shaheen Afridi picked a five-wicket haul that put Australia on the back foot. Marcus Stoinis in the end played some shots but couldn’t finish on a high as Australia posted a total of 367 for nine. 

Pakistan too had a decent start in the chase as openers Abdullah Shafique (64:61b, 7x4, 2x6) and Imam-ul-Haq (70:71b, 10xb) provided a great score to the team. They added 134 runs for the opening partnership but lost wickets in quick succession of time. Skipper Babar Azam (18:14b, 3x4) perished early too and Pakistan came under pressure. Mohammad Rizwan (46:40b, 5x4), Saud Shakeel (30:31b, 5x4) and Iftikhar Ahmed (26:20b, 3x6) chipped in with vital knocks but Adam Zampa displayed his class and took the game away from Pakistan. He returned with figures of four for 53 and helped his side bundle out the opposition for 305 and win the game by 62 runs. 

Australia: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

Match Details

Toss: Pakistan, elected to bat

Venue: M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Start time: 0830 hrs GMT

Match officials: Chris Brown, Richard Illingworth (On-field Umpires); Michael Gough (TV Umpire) Marais Erasmus; Jayaraman Madanagopal(Reserve umpire); Richie Richardson (Match Referee)

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