Warner, Marsh star as Aussies thrash Pakistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Australia have thrashed Pakistan by 62 runs in a high-scoring World Cup game, — thanks to brilliant tons by openers David Warner and Mitchell March.

Australia moved up to fourth spot — level with fifth-placed Pakistan on four points, but with a better net run rate as a result of Friday’s convincing win.

Warner and Marsh forced a mammoth opening partnership to set up Australia’s 62-run victory over Pakistan in Bengaluru.

Pakistan won the toss and put Australia in to bat but skipper Babar Azam’s hopes of taking early wickets quickly evaporated when Warner (163) and Marsh (121) went out all guns blazing in a 259-run partnership, according to Reuters.

“The partnership was awesome. Once we got the pace of the wicket in five-six overs we targeted the next set of guys,” said Warner, who was named player of the match.

In response, Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique (64) and Imam-ul-Haq (70) laid a good platform with a 134-run opening stand but the rest of the top order failed to build on promising starts as they were bowled out for 305.

Warner and Marsh put on a master class of power-hitting, taking advantage of the flat wicket and short boundaries at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to smash 24 fours and 18 sixes between them.

Warner survived an lbw review on the first ball of the innings off Shaheen Afridi and the opener was reprieved when Usama Mir dropped a routine catch at mid-on when he was on 10 and Shafique spilled another chance on 105.

Haris Rauf, who conceded 24 runs in his first over, got Warner caught in the deep when the opener looked to clear the long-on boundary.

The Australian received a standing ovation from the crowd and handshakes from the Pakistan players as he walked off with his seventh 150-plus score in ODIs.

But the Aussies collapsed after Warner’s dismissal, with the last six wickets falling for 38 runs as Afridi finished with figures of 5-54 when he cleaned up the tail.

Marcus Stoinis struck with his first ball when Shafique edged a short ball to Glenn Maxwell to depart for 64 before Imam (70) fell in his next over, caught at third man.

Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed made good starts but Cummins took a sharp diving catch to dismiss the opposition skipper. Adam Zampa (4-53) struck again to remove Iftikhar, who had struck three sixes in five balls.

With the required run rate climbing, Pakistan went for their shots and Zampa picked up two more when Mohammad Rizwan (46) was trapped lbw and Mohammad Nawaz was stumped off the spinner’s final delivery.

sa/mud