BANGLORE, India: In a fiery display of cricket prowess, Australian openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh set the stage ablaze with their batting brilliance, leaving Pakistani bowlers struggling to find a wicket in the World Cup match being played at Bengaluru today.
Australia were 149 for no loss at the end of 20th over with opening pair Warner at 74 and Marsh at 64 runs.
Both Warner and Marsh notched up impressive half-centuries, propelling Australia to a commanding score of 149 for naught at the conclusion of the 20th over. This electrifying showdown took place at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, India, where both teams clashed in their fourth matchups of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan, having won the toss, opted to put Australia in to bat. The Pakistani skipper had a clear strategy in mind – to grab early wickets and exert pressure on the Australian side. The contest was a crucial one for both the Green Shirts and the Aussies, as they vied for victory in the round-robin stage of this prestigious cricket event.
Babar Azam, leading the Pakistani team, had secured two wins out of the three games played so far, while Pat Cummins’ side had managed just one victory in their three matches in the tournament. For this crucial encounter, Pakistan rested Shadab Khan and brought in Usama Mir as his replacement.
The Pakistani skipper described the Chinnaswamy stadium pitch as “good” and expressed confidence in his team following some productive sessions and a well-deserved rest. Nevertheless, Babar acknowledged the need for an improved batting performance, particularly after a less-than-ideal outing against their arch-rivals, India.
On the other side, Australian skipper Pat Cummins stated that his team would have also chosen to bowl first had they won the toss but was content with their batting responsibilities. Cummins commended the wicket, labeling it as “really good,” and drew inspiration from his team’s high-energy display during their recent victory against Sri Lanka. He hoped for a repeat performance against Pakistan, emphasizing that the lineup remains unchanged and “everyone’s good to go.” The stage was set for a thrilling contest in the world of cricket.
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.
Australia: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
