How Australia crushed Pakistan in a high-scoring thriller
Read how Australia crushed Pakistan in a high-scoring thriller in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Find out how David Warner scored the highest individual score of the tournament and how Adam Zampa took four wickets to seal the victory for Australia.
Australia and Pakistan faced each other in a crucial match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Bangalore on Friday, 20 October 2023. The match was expected to be a close contest, as both teams had won two and lost one of their previous three matches. However, Australia proved to be too strong for Pakistan, as they won by 62 runs in a high-scoring thriller.
The Warner-Mitchell show
The match started with Australia winning the toss and opting to bat first on a flat pitch at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. The decision proved to be a masterstroke, as their openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh put on a record-breaking partnership of 284 runs for the first wicket.
Warner was in sublime form, as he smashed the highest individual score of the World Cup 2023, scoring 163 runs off 124 balls, with 14 fours and 9 sixes.
READ ALSO | David Warner hits the highest score of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 | CWC23
He broke several records in his innings, such as the highest score by an Australian in the World Cup, the second-highest score by an Australian in ODIs, and the most sixes by an Australian in a World Cup innings.
Marsh was equally impressive, as he scored his maiden ODI century, making 121 runs off 108 balls, with 10 fours and 9 sixes. He also became the first player to score a century on his World Cup debut. The duo dominated the Pakistan bowling attack, which looked hapless and clueless. They were particularly harsh on the spinners, as they hit them for 12 sixes and 15 fours.
The only bowler who had some success was Shaheen Afridi, who took five wickets for 54 runs in his 10 overs. He dismissed both Warner and Marsh in the death overs, but by then the damage was done. Australia finished with a mammoth total of 367 for 9 in 50 overs, setting Pakistan a daunting target of 368 to win.
An explosive partnership of 259 runs between David Warner and Mitchell Marsh was Australia’s highest-ever ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup stand for the first wicket 💪#CWC23 | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/OjkFdEXzlp
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 20, 2023
The Pakistan chase
Pakistan knew they had to bat out of their skins to chase down such a huge total. They started well, as their openers Abid Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq added 124 runs for the first wicket in 18 overs.
However, their partnership was broken by Pat Cummins, who had Shafique caught behind by Josh Inglis. This triggered a mini-collapse for Pakistan, as they lost three more wickets in quick succession.
Pakistan was reduced to 224 for 4 in the 35th over, still needing 144 runs from 15 overs. The only hope for Pakistan was their captain Imad Ahmed, who had promoted himself to number five. He played a valiant knock of 26 off 20 balls, with three sixes, but he could not find enough support from the other end.
He was eventually caught by Marnus Labuschagne off Zampa in the 41st over. Zampa was the pick of the Australian bowlers, as he took four wickets for 53 runs in his 10 overs. He also became the leading wicket-taker of the World Cup with 12 wickets in four matches.
Pakistan’s lower order tried to put up some resistance, but they were never in the hunt. They were all out for 305 in 45.3 overs, falling short by 62 runs.
Shaheen Afridi closes out the Australian innings in style, picking up the 2nd five wicket haul of #CWC23 🖐️ @mastercardindia Milestones 🏏 #CWC23 | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/Wv2iueOXrM
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 20, 2023
The aftermath
Australia’s convincing win over Pakistan boosted their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals of the World Cup. They moved to the second spot in the points table with three wins out of four matches.
They will face England, their arch-rivals and defending champions, in their next match on November 4 in Ahmedabad. Warner was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match for his record-breaking knock. He also became the leading run-scorer of the World Cup with 325 runs in four matches.
Pakistan’s defeat dented their hopes of making it to the last four. They slipped to the fifth spot in the points table with two wins and two losses. They will have to win their remaining three matches against South Africa, Bangladesh, and New Zealand to have any chance of advancing to the semi-finals.
Conclusion
The match between Australia and Pakistan was one of the most entertaining and high-scoring matches of the World Cup 2023. It showcased the batting prowess of both teams, especially Australia, who posted the highest total of the tournament.
It also highlighted the bowling skills of some of the best bowlers in the world, such as Afridi and Zampa, who took five and four wickets respectively. It was a match that had everything for the cricket fans: runs, wickets, records, drama, and thrill. It was a match that will be remembered for a long time.
