CWC 2023 Match 18, Australia VS Pakistan Played at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangaluru, India on 20 October 2023 
Australia 367/9 (David Warner 163, Mitchell Marsh 121, Marcus Stoinis 21, Shaheen Shah Afridi 5/54, Hariss Rouf 3/83) 
Pakistan 305 All Out in 45.3 Overs (Imam ul Haq 70, Abdullah Shafique 64, Mohammad Rizwan 46, Saud Shakeel 30, Iftikhar Ahmed 26, Adam Zampa 4/53, Marcus Stoinis 2/40, Pat Cummins 2/62)
Australia Won by 62 Runs
Player of the Match: David Warmer (163 Runs) 

The explosive opening partnership of 259 between fiery Australian openers David Warner (163 in 124 balls with 14 fours and 9 sixes) and Mitchell Marsh (121 in 108 balls) led hungry for success Australia setting up skyscrapers of 367/9. 

The way Australian openers were punishing listless Pakistan bowling and exploiting loose Pakistan fielding that at one stage it looked like Australia could score way above 400. But once Michell Marsh was removed Pakistan clawed back and rest of the batting fell to the excellent bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi taking 5/59. Pakistan in reply went down fighting scoring 305 all out in 45.3 overs. 368 against quality Australia bowling and fielding way tall to climb. Australia winning by 62 joined the race for the semifinal. Pakistan is also not out of the race. 

Bengaluru wicket is flat, the ground is small, and outfield is quick. Knowing that fully well Babar Azam winning the toss gambled. But it bounced back as the fielding looked ordinary. Australian openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh plundered Pakistan bowling spanking them all over the park. Sixes and fours were flowing like fountains. Warner scoring 163 in 124 balls spanked as many as 14 fours and 9 towering sixes. It was the highest individual score in CWC 2023. His young partner Mitchell Marsh in his innings of 121 in 108 balls was equally explosive. Pakistani fielders dropped few catches and was very sloppy. The 259 first wicket partnership in 33.5 innings could lead Australia setting new record had not quality Pakistani pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi in his second and third spell come to his own. His late burst into action taking 5/54 restricted Australia to 367/9. Apart from Warner and Marsh only Marcus Stoinis could score 21. Pakistan could rue the decision of bowling on a flat and dropping important catches. Warner and Marsh punished Pakistan bowling. Five times champions are now on a role and have joined the race for the top four. Everything is not lost yet for Pakistan.

Pakistan in the chase also started well with Imam ul Haq (70 in 71 Balls) and Abdullah Shafique (64 in 61) also produced a solid foundation of 134 runs in 21.1 overs). Few other Pakistani batsmen Mohammad Rizwan (46), Saud Shakeel (30) and Iftikhar Ahmed (26) also had start. But the different was fielding and the tall target. Adam Zampa taking 4/53 and Marcus Stoinis grabbing 2/40 ensured that Australian set target stayed out of the reach. Australia won the high scoring derby by 62 runs. Race for the top four has intensified. India and New Zealand are in relatively safer zone. But for the reaming two, South Africa, England, Australia, and Pakistan are in the race now. It will also depend on whether other teams create one or two upsets apart from head-to-head contests of top dogs. 
 
BDST: 0824 HRS, OCT 21, 2023
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