In a thrilling encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Australia showcased their dominance, securing their second consecutive victory in the ongoing World Cup by defeating Pakistan with a commanding 62-run margin.
Australia set a colossal target of 368 runs, thanks to an extraordinary 259-run partnership between David Warner and Mitchell Marsh. This opening stand not only marked Australia’s highest-ever partnership in World Cup history but also the first instance of Pakistan conceding a 200-run partnership in World Cup cricket. Marsh played a brilliant innings, amassing 121 runs, while Warner’s exceptional 163 set a new record for the highest individual score against Pakistan in World Cup cricket, surpassing Andrew Symonds’ 143 in 2003.
In response, Pakistan’s opening duo of Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique made a strong start, stitching together a 134-run partnership – the first century stand for a Pakistani opening pair against Australia in a World Cup match. However, their momentum was disrupted when Abdullah fell for 64, caught off Marcus Stoinis’ delivery. Imam followed suit, departing after scoring 70 runs.
Despite the efforts of Iftikhar Ahmed, who played some aggressive shots, Australia’s Adam Zampa struck crucial blows, dismissing Iftikhar and Mohammad Rizwan in quick succession. Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 305 runs in 45.3 overs. Shaheen Afridi emerged as Pakistan’s standout bowler, claiming five wickets, his second fifer in World Cup cricket.
This victory marked a historic achievement for Australia, not only for their formidable total but also for their exceptional performance with both bat and ball, underlining their strong contender status in the tournament.