Bengaluru (Web Desk): Australia defeated Pakistan by 62 runs in their fourth match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in India's Bangalore on Friday.
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Australia managed to restrict the Pakistan Cricket Team (PCT) to 305 runs after Australia posted a daunting total of 367-9, thanks to David Warner and Mitchell Marsh's masterclass in power-hitting against Pakistan as the duo put on 259-run partnership.
PCT had a good start in their innings as their opening duo of Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique had a 134-run partnership, the first time a Pakistani opening pair had a century stand against Australia in a World Cup match.
However, Abdullah was removed after scoring 64 runs on Marcus Stoinis’ delivery. Following him, the right-handed batter Imam also went back to the pavilion for 70 runs.
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Pakistan were 154-2 in 23.4 overs and were in dire need of another good partnership to get back in the team but skipper Babar Azam after scoring just18 runs was removed by Adam Zampa.
Following skipper's wicket, Green Shirts kept on losing wickets at regular intervals but after the arrival of Iftikhar Ahmed, it looked like Pakistan would get in the game once again and can have a necessary partnership between Iftikhar and Muhammad Rizwan as Iftikhar started hitting boundaries.
Adam Zampa provided the Aussies the much-needed breakthrough as he removed Iftikhar on just 26 runs and Rizwan with only 46 runs in back-to-back overs.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and put Australia in to bat but skipper Babar Azam's hopes of picking up early wickets quickly evaporated when Warner and Marsh went all guns blazing to put on a 259-run opening stand.
In Australian innings, Australia posted 367 runs on the scoreboard, recording the biggest total against Pakistan in the World Cup as Warner entertained the crowd with a blistering knock of 163 off 124 balls while Marsh walked off with a career-best 121 as the pair combined for 24 boundaries and 18 sixes.
The opening stand was also Australia's second-highest for any wicket ever and the second-highest by any team ever.
Marsh scored 121 runs before Afridi dismissed him while Warner posted 163 on the scoreboard — the highest individual score against Pakistan in World Cup cricket.
While Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up five wickets, his second World Cup fifer.
Pakistan's next match of ICC Men's Cricket World Cup is against Afghanistan on October 23, Monday.
