Cricbuzzteam, Pak vs Aus, In a thrilling encounter at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, Pakistan staged a remarkable comeback in the death overs against Australia. Despite their heroic efforts, Australia managed to post a formidable total of 367 runs on the board. The match was filled with spectacular performances, most notably David Warner and Mitchell Marsh’s monumental 259-run opening partnership, but it was Shaheen Afridi’s exceptional five-wicket haul that prevented Australia from crossing the 400-run mark.
PAk vs Aus: A Explosive Start
The signs of a run-fest were evident right from the opening over of the match when Mitchell Marsh launched Shaheen Afridi straight down the ground for a massive six. However, the match could have taken a different turn had Usama Mir, the World Cup debutant, held on to a skier from David Warner. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Mir missed the catch, and from that moment onwards, it seemed like a one-way traffic.
Warner and Marsh Dominate
The Australian openers, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, were merciless in their approach, particularly targeting Haris Rauf. Warner smashed Rauf for a four and a six, which was then followed by a trio of boundaries from Marsh’s bat. Even the part-time off-spin of Iftikhar Ahmed couldn’t deter the Australian onslaught, as they managed to accumulate 82 runs in the powerplay.
While Warner maintained a strike rate of over 100 for the majority of his innings, Marsh accelerated his scoring after reaching fifty. Usama Mir did find some assistance from the pitch, but it was insufficient to disrupt the Australian onslaught. By the halfway mark, Australia had amassed 172 runs on the board, and Pakistan was still hunting for the crucial opening breakthrough.
PAk vs AUS: A Century for Both Openers
David Warner and Mitchell Marsh achieved a remarkable feat by becoming just the third opening pair to score centuries in the same World Cup game. Astonishingly, they reached their centuries off consecutive deliveries in the same over. For Warner, this was also his fourth consecutive century against Pakistan, showcasing his dominance.
Pakistan’s Respite
Shaheen Afridi finally provided some respite for Pakistan, removing Marsh and Glenn Maxwell off consecutive deliveries, despite conceding two sixes earlier in the over. However, Steve Smith couldn’t capitalize on the lifeline he received from Babar Azam at slip and was dismissed by Usama Mir. Yet, David Warner continued to dominate the proceedings.
Warner’s Explosive Innings
Warner’s eighth six of the innings took him beyond the 150-run mark in ODI cricket for the seventh time in his illustrious career. With Australia at 297/3 after 40 overs, it seemed inevitable that they would breach the 400-run barrier. However, Warner’s dismissal for 163 shifted the momentum, allowing Pakistan to claw back into the game.
Haris Rauf, who had earlier conceded 70 runs in his first five overs, struck again by dismissing Josh Inglis. Shaheen Afridi then took charge in the death overs, removing Marcus Stoinis and Marnus Labuschagne. In the final over, Shaheen added two more wickets to his tally, limiting Australia to just 27 runs in the last five overs. Despite the late slump, Australia believed they had enough on the boar
The match at Chinnaswamy Stadium was a rollercoaster ride filled with breathtaking performances. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, displayed immense resilience in the death overs to restrict Australia to 367/9 in 50 overs. While the Australians will be satisfied with their total, Pakistan’s fightback was a testament to their determination and skill.
Brief score: Australia 367/9 in 50 overs (David Warner 163, Mitchell Marsh 121; Shaheen Afridi 5/54) vs Pakistan