ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique (64) and Imam-ul-Haq (70) gave their team a good start as the duo stitched together a 134-run partnership
Adam Zampa (Pic: AFP)
Openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh struck blazing centuries and forged a 259-run stand as Australia defeated Pakistan by 62 runs in the ICC World Cup 2023 league stage match on Friday.
Thanks to Warner's 124-ball 163 and Marsh's 121 off 108, Australia scored an imposing scored 367 for 9 and then bundled out Pakistan for 305 in 45.3 overs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
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Australia, who were asked to bat first, needed a dominant show to spruce up their confidence after three middling efforts that fetched two defeats and a win in this tournament, and they did it with a bang.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi's five-wicket haul (5/54) was just a sad reminder as to what other Pakistan bowlers could have done with a bit of thinking on a vastly underwhelming day.
Warner, who was dropped twice on 10 and 105, and Marsh were at their marauding best against a Pakistan attack that lacked direction on a smooth M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch with a quick outfield adding value to the shots too.
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Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique (64) and Imam-ul-Haq (70) gave their team a good start as the duo stitched together a 134-run partnership.
But after Marcus Stoinis (2/40) accounted for the duo, spinner Adam Zampa (4/53) ran through Pakistan's middle and lower-order to emerge the most successful Aussie bowler.
Earlier, Shaheen Shah Afridi halted Australia's charge towards a 400-plus total, grabbing five wickets as he accounted for Marsh, Maxwell, Stoinis, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Brief scores:
Australia: 367 for 9 in 50 overs (David Warner 163, Mitchell Marsh 121, Marcus Stoinis 21; Shaheen Shah Afridi 5/54, Haris Rauf 3/83).
Pakistan: 305 in 45.3 overs (Abdullah Shafique 64, Imam-ul-Haq 70, Mohammad Rizwan 46, Saud Shakeel 30; Adam Zampa 4/53, Marcus Stoinis 2/40, Pat Cummins 2/62).
(With inputs from agencies)
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