Warner, Marsh light up Chinnaswamy; Aussies revive their mojo in style

Mohammed Rumman Khan | NT

Bengaluru: In a high-scoring World Cup group match, Australia secured a resounding 62-run victory over Pakistan, putting their campaign back on track with a second consecutive win.

The triumph was attributed to outstanding centuries by the opening pair, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, showcasing Australia's batting prowess, along with the relentless performance of Adam Zampa with the ball.

Australia's ascent to the fourth spot in the standings, level on points with Pakistan but boasting a superior net run rate, was fueled primarily by a monumental opening partnership.

Warner led the way with a commanding 163, while Marsh contributed an excellent 121, propelling Australia to a total of 367 runs, including a massive 259-run opening stand.

The only disruption in their otherwise smooth progress came from leftarm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who claimed a fivewicket haul (5/54), underscoring the missed opportunities by other Pakistani bowlers.

The Chinnaswamy Stadium, known for its compact dimensions and batsmanfriendly pitch, continued to favor the batters. The conditions, with temperatures peaking at 30 degrees Celsius and cooling down after 4 p.m., were ideal for a cricket match in this predictably warm October in Garden City.

A notable proportion of spectators at Chinnaswamy were supporting the Australian team. They came to witness an exhilarating contest and lauded both Pakistan and Australia for their exceptional cricket, whether it was impressive fielding efforts or towering sixes from either side.

Warner had a significant escape in the fifth over when Usama Mir dropped a straightforward chance, with Warner's score at just 10. Pakistan's spinners struggled to stem the flow of runs as Warner and Marsh established a substantial platform.

Both batsmen reached their respective fifties in the early overs, and by the midway point of the innings, all six Pakistan bowlers had been dispatched for boundaries by the duo.

Australia played in their traditional style, characterised by an aggressive, fearless, and ruthless approach. While Australia typically secures a spot in ICC tournaments with ease, Pakistan often takes a more circuitous route. In this match, Australia's big names delivered, but Pakistan fell short despite Shaheen's stellar bowling performance.

The Chinnaswamy Stadium was a favorable starting point for the Australians, and they capitalized on it. Nevertheless, the 369-run target was a formidable challenge. Pakistan, however, approached their chase with a fearless and efficient mindset.

Opener Imam-ul-Haq, displaying a hint of his legendary uncle Inzamam-ul-Haq with his elegant timing and crisp strokes and notched his first half-century of the tournament with a score of 70 off 71 balls. Abdullah Shafique, who replaced the injured Fakhar Zaman, continued his fine form with 64 runs off 61 balls.

Together, they accumulated 134 runs effortlessly in 127 balls, benefiting from a couple of dropped catches. Imam was let off on 48 when Pat Cummins failed to hold a chance off Glenn Maxwell, while Shafique received a reprieve on 27 courtesy substitute fielder Sean Abbott's drop off Cummins.

However, Marcus Stoinis, unafraid to use the bounce of the pitch, dismissed both Imam and Shafique in quick succession. Legspinner Zampa claimed the prized wicket of Babar, and Pakistan appeared to be in trouble.

Nonetheless, Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel combined for a 56-run partnership off 48 balls to keep Pakistan's hopes alive. The Australian team maintained pressure during the middle overs, and their persistence paid off as Zampa dismissed both Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed with skidding deliveries, resulting in leg-before dismissals.

These crucial wickets extinguished any hopes Pakistan had of staging a miraculous comeback.

Brief scores: Australia 367/9 in 50 overs (David Warner 163, Mitchell Marsh 121; Shaheen Afridi 5/54) beat Pakistan 305 in 45.3 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 70, Abdullah Shafique 64; Adam Zampa 4/53) by 62 runs