BENGALURU – Australia beat Pakistan by 62 runs in the 18th match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 in the Indian city of Bengaluru on Friday (today).
Pakistan won the toss and decided to field first. Batting first, Australia set a 368 runs target for Pakistan. Chasing the target, the Pakistan team could score only 305 runs in 45.3 overs at the loss of all 10 wickets.
Three dropped catches allowed the Australian batters to play an aggressive game. However, Pakistani bowlers staged a comeback in the later half of the innings and succeeded in bringing Pakistan back into the match to some extent.
From Pakistan’s side, Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique came out to open the innings and they provided the team a solid ground to build the innings. However, Pakistan’s middle order failed the team again and no batter put up any resistance to the Australian bowling attack. Australia brought forward Mitchell Starc to bowl the first over.
Pakistan are set a target of 368 🏏@iShaheenAfridi and @HarisRauf14 share eight wickets between them after 🇦🇺 openers Warner and Marsh amassed tons.#AUSvPAK | #DattKePakistani | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/rPJLvBadbh
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 20, 2023
The match began at 01:30PM (Pakistan Standard Time).
📸🪙#AUSvPAK | #DattKePakistani | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/NsYsrRSDuc
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 20, 2023
At the end of the 30th over, Australia were 208 for no loss. Australian batsmen David Warner and Mitchell Marsh scored centuries one after other. Long after two dropped catches, Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell after one another in the 34th over. Marsh scored 121 runs in 108 balls. On the very next ball, Shaheen removed Maxwell for 0. Later in 39th over Usama Mir removed Steven Smith at his individual total of 7. He played 9 balls before Mir took his catch on his own delivery.
Marsh and Warner hit fifties as Australia are 172-0 at the halfway mark.#AUSvPAK | #DattKePakistani pic.twitter.com/826YkeMyvK
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 20, 2023
In the 43rd over, Haris Rauf took the wicket of David Warner at his individual total of 163 in 124 balls. Again, Haris Rauf bowled out Josh Inglis for 13 runs in 9 balls in the 45th over of the innings. In 48th over, Shaheen Shah Afridi struck once again, this time removing Marcus Stoinis at 21 for 24 balls. In 49th over, Haris Rauf sent Marnus Labushagne back to the pavilion at 8 runs in 12 balls. In 50th over, Shaheen Shah Afridi sent Mitchell Starc packing at 2 runs in 3 balls. On the very next ball, Shaheen bowled out Josh Hazlewood at 0. With Josh’s wicket, Shaheen completed his fifth wicket in today’s match against Australia. Australia finished their innings at 367 for 9 in 50 overs