David Warner hits the highest score of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 | CWC23
David Warner, the Australian opening batsman, smashed the highest individual score of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in a group stage match against Pakistan in Bangalore on Friday, 20 October 2023.
Warner scored a magnificent 189 runs off 156 balls, with 16 fours and 7 sixes, to help Australia post a mammoth total of 367 for 9 in 50 overs. David Warner’s innings was the fourth-highest in the history of the World Cup, and the highest by an Australian player in the tournament.
READ ALSO | Australia vs Sri Lanka: Cricket World Cup 2023 – live updates
David Warner’s innings
David Warner came to bat after Australia won the toss and elected to bat first at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is known for its high-scoring pitches and small boundaries.
He started cautiously, as Pakistan’s new-ball bowlers Mohammad Amir and Haris Rauf bowled with pace and accuracy. Warner was lucky to survive a dropped catch by Usama Mir at point when he was on 10. He then gradually increased his tempo, as he found the gaps and hit some crisp boundaries.
David Warner reached his half-century off 54 balls, and then accelerated his scoring rate. He was particularly severe on Pakistan’s spinners, as he used his feet and swept them powerfully.
He also hit some towering sixes, one of which hit the roof of the stadium off Haris Rauf. He completed his century off 97 balls, and then went berserk in the final overs. He added 89 runs in the last 10 overs with Glenn Maxwell, who scored a quick-fire 43 off 22 balls.
David Warner was finally dismissed in the last over of the innings, when he tried to hit another six off Rauf, but only managed to sky it to Babar Azam at long-off. He walked off to a standing ovation from the crowd and his teammates, as he had played one of the most memorable innings in World Cup history.
David Warner’s records
David Warner’s knock of 189 broke several records in the World Cup and ODI cricket. Some of them are:
- The highest individual score in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 181 against Bangladesh in Pune.
- The fourth-highest individual score in the history of the World Cup, behind Martin Guptill’s 237*, Chris Gayle’s 215 and Gary Kirsten’s 188*.
- The highest individual score by an Australian player in the World Cup, surpassing Matthew Hayden’s 158 against West Indies in 2007.
- The second-highest individual score by an Australian player in ODI cricket, behind Shane Watson’s 185* against Bangladesh in 2011.
- The highest individual score by any player against Pakistan in ODI cricket, surpassing Viv Richards’ 181 in 1987.
- The most sixes hit by an Australian player in a World Cup innings, with 7 sixes.
- The joint-most sixes hit by any player in a World Cup innings, along with Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers.
READ ALSO | ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Points Table and Analysis October 15, 2023
David Warner’s impact
David Warner’s brilliant innings gave Australia a huge advantage in the match, as they set Pakistan a daunting target of 368 to win. Pakistan never looked like chasing it down, as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
They were eventually restricted to 264 for 4 in 37.4 overs, when rain stopped play and Australia won by 103 runs by DLS method. David Warner was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match for his record-breaking knock.
David Warner’s innings also boosted Australia’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals of the World Cup, as they moved to the second spot in the points table with two wins out of three matches.
They will face England, their arch-rivals and defending champions, in their next match on November 4 in Ahmedabad. David Warner will be hoping to continue his sublime form and lead Australia to another World Cup glory.
