Australia vs Pakistan match start on October 3, 2023.The match held on Hyderabad, India, Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
Australia emerged victorious over Pakistan by a margin of 14 runs in their ultimate warm-up match before the World Cup, showcasing a commendable collective performance with both bat and ball.
Despite the scoreline indicating a close encounter, Australia maintained substantial control throughout the game, posting an imposing total of 351 and securing early breakthroughs.
The tussle took an intriguing turn as a formidable partnership between Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed propelled Pakistan back into contention.
Runs:
- Australia: 351 for 7 (50 overs)
- David Warner: 48
- Josh Inglis: 48
- Glenn Maxwell: 50*
- Pakistan: 337 for 10 (47 overs)
- Babar Azam: 90
- Iftikhar Ahmed: 83
- Marnus Labuschagne: 3 for 78
Result: Australia won by 14 runs
Opting to bat after winning the toss, David Warner’s explosive 33-ball 48 provided Australia with a flying start. However, Pakistan’s persistent strikes in the middle overs curtailed Australia’s momentum.
While Hasan Ali exhibited economic bowling at the beginning, it was Usama Mir who made significant inroads by claiming crucial wickets. Meanwhile, Mohammad Nawaz played his customary and dependable role as a containment expert.
The match unfolded as a dynamic interplay of batting prowess and strategic bowling maneuvers, offering a glimpse into the teams’ preparedness for the upcoming World Cup.
Australia vs Pakistan Highlights
However, Pakistan’s bowlers witnessed a loss of momentum in the death overs, succumbing to a fierce onslaught led by Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis, resulting in 126 runs being plundered off the final 12 overs.
The late-stage onslaught continued with Cameron Green, who capitalized on the struggle of Mohammad Wasim and Haris Rauf, particularly punishing them.
The all-rounder reached an unbeaten 50 off the final ball of the innings, with Rauf conceding a daunting 97 runs in 9 overs.
Pakistan initiated the game brightly but soon encountered stumbling blocks. The promising start took a downturn as Imam-ul-Haq fell victim to a beautifully seaming delivery from Pat Cummins, followed by the dismissals of Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique due to ungainly slogs.
Marnus Labuschagne, contributing with both bat and ball, initiated his wicket-taking spree by removing the promoted Shadab Khan early in the innings. As the run rate dwindled, Pakistan found themselves in dire straits at 83 for four.
The match unfolded as a tale of contrasting fortunes, with Australia’s late batting surge contrasting Pakistan’s early promise.
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However, Australia, rather than swiftly closing out the game, opted to extract a bit more intensity from this warm-up. In the subsequent 20 overs, they delved into the realm of part-time spin, featuring Labuschagne and Maxwell, and an even more part-time spin duo of Steve Smith and David Warner.
The latter nearly claimed Iftikhar with a glaring full toss, but with Josh Inglis spilling the chance, chaos ensued.
Warner conceded 41 runs in his two overs, and the duo of Labuschagne and Maxwell piled on 144 runs in just under 18 overs before Iftikhar’s eventual dismissal at the straight boundary. Despite Babar Azam’s sublime touch, he conceded his wicket after reaching an unbeaten 90.
With 87 runs needed off 13 overs, Australia shifted gears as Cummins returned, swiftly dismissing Salman Ali Agha in his opening over.
Pakistan, resiliently chipping away, found support in Nawaz’s half-century, but Australia relentlessly penetrated the lower order with consistent wicket-taking.
Facing the challenge of 21 runs required in the final three overs with just one wicket in hand, Cummins turned to Labuschagne once more.
The part-timer conceded six off his first three balls before Hasan Ali’s ambitious slog found Mitchell Marsh at long-off, concluding a tumultuous game.
Australia secured the win in a contest that could have been more comfortable had they chosen to do so. The strategic shifts and the rollercoaster of performances made it a gripping encounter, showcasing the unpredictable nature of warm-up matches.
