In the ICC World Cup 2023 match in Bengaluru, Australia put up an outstanding performance, setting a formidable target of 368 runs for Pakistan, thanks to the historic partnership between David Warner and Mitch Marsh. This record-breaking opening partnership of 259 runs in World Cup history demonstrated their exceptional batting prowess. Warner was the star of the show, lighting up the stadium with his fiery boundaries on his way to scoring 163, while Marsh exhibited his batting magic, contributing a brilliant 121.
After Warner and Marsh’s dismissals, Pakistan’s bowlers managed to secure quick wickets, with Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith falling in succession. Although the middle order tried to maintain momentum, Pakistan succeeded in restricting Australia from adding substantially to their total. Later in the innings, Pakistan’s bowlers made further inroads, dismissing Australia’s tail-enders.
Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf were Pakistan’s standout bowlers, with Afridi taking five wickets and Rauf claiming three.
Australia’s journey in the World Cup 2023 had been turbulent, with consecutive losses without crossing the 200-run mark. However, they bounced back with a convincing victory against Sri Lanka in their previous match.
As for Pakistan, despite their earlier setback against arch-rival India, they were still in a strong position in the tournament, having secured four points from three matches. The encounter between these two cricketing giants promised an exciting clash, with Australia historically holding the edge in World Cup encounters. The absence of certain players like Fakhar Zaman due to illness and the presence of others like Abdullah Shafique added an element of unpredictability to the game.
