CWC2023: Australia overcomes a spirited Pakistan chase as Warner , Marsh & Zampa shines

 

 A  breathtaking opening stand of 259 between David Warner and Mitch Marsh set up a big Australia win over Pakistan but not before Pakistan batters made a brave attempt to chase down a huge score but at the end Australia bowlers led by Zampa proved to be a stiff hurdle to overcome 

 Warner still gave a chance off Afridi at 10 but the easy catch was dropped like the one we see in picnic games .  Mitchell Marsh on the opposite side didn't give that either.  He went down to play on his birthday and scored a belligerent hundred.  Not many cricketers have such an example.  Both the batters were smiling and playing their shots enthralling the packed Bangalore crowd . Both the batters initially took a while before starting to unfurl their shots and managed 82 in first powerplay.  Marsh was smashing the Pakistani fast bowlers as he took special liking for Shaheen & Haris Rauf driving on the up  , cutting and pulling them mostly into the stands .   Warner after he got into his rhytm was driving through the gaps and pulling and hitting to cow corner  with disdain as the  Australia's scoreboard was moving rapidly. The much hyped Pakistan pace attack had no answer and the spinners looked ordinary . 

After a rollicking opening stand of 259 . Marsh was caught at short fine leg off Afridi for a dazzling 121 off 108 balls studded with 10 fours and 9 sixes .

Maxwell (0) who was sent to smash the bowling lasted one ball as he played an ugly shot . Smith (7) went cheaply and finally Warner after a breathtaking 163 off 124 balls was dismissed by an expensive Haris Rauf . Warner smashed 14 fours and 9 sixes in a masterclass .

The Australian innngs fell away after Warner's exit . Stoinis (21) , Inglis (13) , Labuschagne (8) and the bowlers could not drive home the advantage as Australia were restricted to 367/9 after they looked good for 400 at one stage . Shaheen Afridi made a comeback of sorts taking 5/54 in the slog overs and Rauf after getting hammering at the start finally took 3 wickets for 83 runs  with a more improved bowling at the death . 

 The pitch was a batter's paradise.  So no one thought that Pakistan would lose the war without a fight.  Like Australia, Pakistan's two openers continued to play from the start.  Abdullah Shafique and Imam ul Haque scored 134 runs.  The run rate per over was also good as both played sublime strokes and found the gaps with ease while at the start the  Australia's bowlers were disoriented.

Shafique after a sparkling 64 was dismissed by Stoinis who also had Imam (70) caught in the deep by Starc . Babar and Rizwan were shaping up to bat long but Babar (18) was superbly caught by Cummins off Zampa which was a big blow to Pakistan . 

Saud Shakeel (30) looked in good touch before Cummins dismissed him . Rizwan and Ifthikar  was building a good stand as Ifthikar smacked 3 sixes but  soon Zampa had him lbw

 for 26 and from there Pakistan's resistance started to break with Rizwan (46) too perishing lbw to Zampa and the rest of the batting folded up sion for 305.

It was a spirited chase by Pakistan but Australia played the big moments better in this very intriguing runchase to win by 67 runs.  Zampa claimed 4 wickets while Stoinis and Cummins took 2 each . Hazlewood on a overwhelming day for batters gave away only 37 runs in his 10 overs for 1 wicket while Starc continued his amazing World cup record of taking at least a wicket in a world cup game .

David Warner was the man of the match and Australia move upto 4th position in the points table .