World Cup 2023: Warner, Marsh's hundreds inspire Australia to victory over Pakistan

The two tons from Australia's opening pair of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh guided the Kangaroos to a comfortable win by 62 runs against Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.

🏏 Match Summary 🏏
Pakistan fall short by 62 runs in Bengaluru.

We take on Afghanistan next on Monday.#AUSvPAK | #DattKePakistani pic.twitter.com/v4Cnre6y1E

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 20, 2023

As it happened in Bengaluru

Chasing the mammoth target of 367, Pakistan's openers were off to a superb start, with Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq taking advantage of some wayward bowling in the first powerplay adding 59 runs. The senior campaigner of the Australian squad, Mitchell Starc went for 28 off his first three.

Steady start from the openers as @imabd28 and @ImamUlHaq12 go unscathed in the Powerplay 🏏#AUSvPAK | #DattKePakistani | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/eaYgw0TSF5

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 20, 2023

Pakistan fails as RRR increses

Pakistan's openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq put up a 134-run opening stand, scoring respective half-centuries in the process. Allrounder Marcus Stoinis's double strike sent the openers into the pavilion. Stoinis scalped Shafique's wicket off the first ball of the match and later got Imam out as well. Skipper Babar Azam then fell to Adam Zampa after a stunning catch from Pat Cummins.

2️⃣5️⃣ overs completed 📝

Following a 134-run opening stand, Pakistan are 169-2 with @babarazam258 and @iMRizwanPak at the crease 🏏#AUSvPAK | #DattKePakistani | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/c9v24MON6C

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 20, 2023

Pakistan middle order fails to fire

Adam Zampa combined with Pat Cummins to restrict Pakistan to 62 short of the target. Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, and Iftikhar Ahmed started well, yet failed to convert them into big innings. As the Required Run Rate(RRR) increased the batters lost their respective wickets in the process to increase the Current Run Rate(CRR). 'Men in Green' failed to fire at the ends as the pressure of RNN increased, they fell like a deck of cards.

Zampa claims 4-wicket haul

Adam Zamapa scalped a four-wicket haul while allrounder Marcus Stoinis and Pat Cummins got two wickets each. Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc get the rest.  

Triggering the collapse!

Back-to-back four-wicket hauls for Adam Zampa #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/RWJVQWEdHd

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 20, 2023

Big hundreds from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh

Earlier in the game, Australian opener Warner hammered 163 runs off 124 balls, including 14 boundaries and nine maximums. Meanwhile, his opening partner Marsh smashed 121 runs off 108 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and nine monstrous maximums. 

When Warner tons up, he goes LARGE #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/0eoRA0TEF5

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 20, 2023

Meanwhile, Pakistan fought back attacking late in the innings with Shaheen Afridi scalping a five-wicket haul and Haris Rauf taking three wickets.