Cricbuzzteam, In a thrilling showdown on Friday, October 20, 2023, Australia pulled off a stunning 62-run victory against Pakistan in Match 18 of the ongoing World Cup, held in Bengaluru. This extraordinary match was marked by record-breaking performances and exceptional statistics, making it a cricketing spectacle like no other. Let’s delve into the key numbers and records that defined this epic clash.
Unprecedented Performance
Historic Batting Display: The match witnessed a unique feat as each of the four openers – David Warner (163), Mitchell Marsh (121), Imam-ul-Haq (70), and Abduallah Shafique (64) – registered 50-plus scores. This marked the first instance of all four openers achieving this milestone in a World Cup match and only the 14th time in the history of ODI cricket.
Record-Breaking Opening Partnerships: The two opening pairs combined for a remarkable 393 partnership runs (259 and 134), establishing the second-highest aggregate for the first wicket in ODIs. This record came second only to the 398 runs scored during the 2011 World Cup fixture between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Pallekele.
Highest Total Against Pakistan in World Cups: Australia’s score of 367/9 set a new record as the highest total ever recorded against Pakistan in World Cup matches, surpassing Sri Lanka’s 344/9, which had been successfully chased down.
Double Century Opening Partnerships: The match featured the third instance of 100-plus opening partnerships in both innings of a World Cup game. The previous occurrences were in 2007 (Australia vs. South Africa, Basseterre) and 2011 (Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe, Pallekele).
Highest opening partnerships in World Cups
| Runs | Pair | For | Against | Venue, Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 282 | Dilshan and Tharanga | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | Pallekele, 2011 |
| 259 | Warner and Marsh | Australia | Pakistan | Bengaluru, 2023 |
| 231* | Dilshan and Tharanga | Sri Lanka | England | Colombo RPS, 2011 |
| 194 | Anwar and Wasti | Pakistan | New Zealand | Manchester, 1999 |
| 189 | Rohit and Rahul | India | Sri Lanka | Leeds, 2019 |
Highest partnerships for Australia in ODIs (any wicket)
| Runs | Wicket | Pair | Opponent | Venue, Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 284 | 1st | David Warner and Travis Head | Pakistan | Adelaide, 2017 |
| 269 | 1st | David Warner and Travis Head | England | Melbourne, 2022 |
| 260 | 2nd | David Warner and Steven Smith | Afghanistan | Perth, 2015 |
| 259 | 1st | David Warner and Mitchell Marsh | Pakistan | Bengaluru, 2023 |
| 258* | 1st | David Warner and Aaron Finch | India | Mumbai WS, 2020 |
The Warner-Marsh Show
Century-Making Duos: David Warner and Mitchell Marsh’s centuries were the fourth instance of both openers achieving hundreds in a World Cup innings. In 2011, Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan achieved this feat, and it was replicated by KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma in 2019. Overall, it was the seventh occasion of both Australian openers scoring centuries in an ODI.
Impressive Opening Stand: David Warner and Mitchell Marsh’s partnership of 259 runs became the second-highest opening partnership in World Cup history. It also ranks as the sixth best for any wicket in the competition and the third-highest opening partnership for Australia in ODIs.
Record-Breaking Sixes: Warner and Marsh’s extraordinary performance included a record-breaking 18 sixes, with each batsman hitting nine. This set a new record for opening batsmen in ODIs, surpassing the previous record held by India vs. Australia in Bengaluru (2013) and West Indies vs. Zimbabwe in Canberra (2015).
Joint-Highest Sixes in a World Cup: Marsh and Warner’s nine sixes each in the match tied the record for the joint-highest number of sixes in a World Cup innings for Australia.
Extraordinary Batting Records
Most Sixes in a World Cup Innings: This match saw a total of 25 sixes, with Australia contributing 19 and Pakistan hitting six. It ranks as the third-highest count of sixes in a World Cup match.
17 – Eoin Morgan (ENG) vs AFG, Manchester, 2019
16 – Chris Gayle (WI) vs ZIM, Canberra, 2015
11 – Martin Guptill (NZ) vs WI, Wellington, 2015
9 – David Miller (SA) vs ZIM, Hamilton, 2015
9 – David Warner (AUS) vs PAK, Bengaluru, 2023
9 – Mitchell Marsh (AUS) vs PAK, Bengaluru, 2023
Birthday Century: On his 32nd birthday, Mitchell Marsh joined the elite club of players who have scored a World Cup century on their birthdays. The previous instance was by Ross Taylor, who scored an unbeaten 131* off 124 on his 27th birthday against Pakistan in Pallekele in 2011.
Players registering ODI hundreds on their birthdays
| Score | Player | For | Against | Venue, Year |
| 100* | Vinod Kambli | India | England | Jaipur, 1993 |
| 134 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | Australia | Sharjah, 1998 |
| 130 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | Karachi, 2008 |
| 131* | Ross Taylor | New Zealand | Pakistan | Pallekele, 2011 |
| 140* | Tom Latham | New Zealand | Netherlands | Hamilton, 2022 |
| 121 | Mitchell Marsh | Australia | Pakistan | Bengaluru, 2023 |
David Warner’s World Cup Brilliance
Five World Cup Centuries: David Warner’s impressive tally of five World Cup centuries equals Ricky Ponting’s record for the most centuries in World Cup history for Australia. Only Rohit Sharma (7) and Sachin Tendulkar have more centuries in World Cups.
150-Plus Scores: Warner’s exceptional 163-run innings was one of three 150-plus scores in World Cup history. This record-breaking performance secured Warner’s position as the player with the top three highest scores for Australia in World Cups.
Most 150-plus scores in ODIs
8 – Rohit Sharma
7 – David Warner
5 – Sachin Tendulkar
5 – Chris Gayle
5 – Virat Kohli
A Remarkable Streak
Back-to-Back Centuries: David Warner’s four consecutive hundreds against Pakistan in ODIs tied the record for the most back-to-back centuries against a team in ODIs, a record he shares with Virat Kohli.
Impressive Six-Hitting: Australia’s total of 19 sixes in the match equaled their joint-highest count in an ODI innings, previously achieved at the same venue against India in 2013.
Usama Mir’s Record: Pakistan bowler Usama Mir conceded 82 runs, the most by a Pakistan bowler on a World Cup debut. Shaheen Afridi held the previous record, with figures of 2/70 against the same opponent in Taunton in 2019. Shaheen also became only the second Pakistan bowler to secure two five-fors in World Cup matches, joining Shahid Afridi.
In conclusion, Australia’s incredible win over Pakistan in the 2023 World Cup showcased extraordinary batting performances, record-breaking partnerships, and a mesmerizing display of power hitting. The players, particularly David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, etched their names in the annals of cricketing history with their remarkable achievements in this match.