Pakistan suffered a comprehensive 62-run defeat at the hands of Australia in Match 18 of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Friday (October 21).
Opting to bowl first, Pakistan conceded a mammoth 367/9 on the board as Australia’s opening duo of David Warner (163 off 124) and Mitchell Marsh (121 off 108) slammed dazzling centuries.
In reply, the Men in Green got off to a solid start as Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique set the tone with an opening stand of 134 runs. However, other batters failed to capitalize on it and Pakistan’s innings folded for 305 in 45.3 overs.
After the game, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam rued his team’s poor bowling and fielding display. He categorically mentioned that dropping Warner’s drop catch proved costly for his side.
"First 34 overs in the bowl and field cost us. We dropped Warner and such batters ensure they cash in," Babar said during the post-match presentation.
"Honestly, we have to get up to the mark in the first 10 overs with the ball and partnerships in the middle with bat."
Warner got a couple of reprieves – once at mid-on by Usama Mir when he was at 10 in the fifth over and the second time in the 33rd over by Abdullah Shafique at deep mid-wicket.
Amid the carnage, left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi returned with a five-wicket haul for Pakistan while other bowlers also managed to bounce back in the last 15 overs.
"Credit to quicks and spinners for coming back in the last 15 overs, who hit their lengths and the stumps," Babar said.
Despite an impressive start, Pakistan fell way short of the target and Babar lamented the performance of the middle-order.
"Message for the batters was that we can do it. We've done it and the ball comes well under lights. We started well. We got small partnerships but needed big ones in the middle,” he concluded.
On the other hand, Pat Cummins was an elated captain and heaped praise on his troops, especially the openers.
"That was great. Pretty tough playing here but good to get a win. Proper from the openers, it set the tone and we want to take the game on like that.
"The key in ODIs is to carry on. You get one breakthrough and it looks tough for the next guy. Batting for long, like our openers did, was great."
Adam Zampa starred with the ball for Australia, claiming four wickets by conceding 53 runs in his 10 overs. Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz were his victims.
Lauding the leg-spinner, Cummins said: "Zampa has been awesome. Showed his class, he's a wicket-taker. Babar and Iftikhar were big wickets."
"We're coming off two wins and have a three or four-day break before the next game. Can take a couple of days off, then get into work. We've set the benchmark in the last two games and gotta keep that going," the Australian skipper concluded.
(With PTI Inputs)
