ICC World Cup 2023: Warner, Marsh miss out on creating history for Australia
Warner and Marsh forged a substantial 259-run partnership
Australian openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh illuminated the stage at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against the Pakistan side led by Babar Azam on Friday. The formidable duo not only regained their form as a pair but also dominated the Pakistani bowlers.
Nonetheless, the Australian openers narrowly missed making history by a single run. Warner and Marsh forged a substantial 259-run partnership but fell just short of the highest partnership for Australia in World Cups.
Warner and Steve Smith's partnership of 260 runs against Afghanistan in 2015 remains the most substantial stand for the five-time champions in any premier event.
Earlier in the day, Babar won the toss and misjudged the conditions by choosing to invite the opposing side to bat first on the batting-friendly pitch in Bengaluru. To compound their problems, the Pakistani fielding was as inexperienced as it could be, leaking numerous runs and dropping Warner twice before the left-handed batter could reach his first century in the 2023 World Cup.
The 36-year-old, the second-highest century-maker for his country, achieved his 21st ODI century and his fourth consecutive hundred against Pakistan on Friday afternoon. His partner-in-crime, Marsh, also recorded an equally impressive century - his second in the format - but fell victim to Shaheen Afridi after scoring 131 runs.
Afridi dismissed Marsh and Glenn Maxwell on consecutive deliveries, but Warner remains resolute. At the time of writing, Australia's score stands at 284-2 after 38 overs, with the opener batting at 139* and Steve Smith at 7*.
Playing XI:
Australia: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (w), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood.
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (w), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
Comments