HYDERABAD: In a high-octane warm-up match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad, the Australian cricket team displayed sheer dominance with the bat, setting a daunting target of 352 runs for Pakistan. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australia’s formidable batting lineup caused difficulties for Pakistani bowlers, posting an imposing total of 351 runs in 50 overs on Tuesday.
The Aussie innings was spearheaded by an impressive performance from Glenn Maxwell, who played a scintillating knock, scoring 77 runs off 71 deliveries, laced with ten boundaries that found gaps all over the ground. Maxwell’s aggressive play was complemented by Josh Inglis, who accelerated the innings in the final 10 overs, contributing a brisk 48 off 30 balls with a striking 160 run-rate.
Despite a promising start for Australia, Pakistani spinner Usama Mir managed to put the brakes on their momentum by dismissing both openers, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, in consecutive overs when they were nearing the 100-run mark. Warner scored 48, while Marsh contributed 31 to the team’s total. For Pakistan, Mir claimed two crucial wickets, while Haris Rauf, Wasim Jr., and Shadab Khan chipped in with one wicket each.
However, it was a challenging outing for Haris Rauf, who managed to take a wicket but conceded a whopping 97 runs in his nine overs. Shadab Khan, leading the Pakistani side in the absence of Babar Azam, also contributed with a wicket.
Australia’s decision to bat first proved fruitful, showcasing their batting prowess ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023. Pakistan, on the other hand, faces an uphill task as they aim to chase down the mammoth target set by the Australians.
In their first warm-up match, Pakistan posted an impressive 345 against New Zealand but suffered a defeat as the Black Caps successfully chased the target in just 43.4 overs, capitalizing on Pakistan’s bowling inconsistencies.
The warm-up matches for the ICC World Cup 2023 consist of 50 overs per side, although these matches do not carry official ODI status, allowing teams the flexibility to include all 15 members of their squad in the playing XI.
Pakistan Squad
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim
Australia Squad
Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc
