BENGALURU: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has shed light on the factors behind their recent defeat to Australia.
In the aftermath of a loss to Australia in Bangalore, Babar Azam articulated that the team’s subpar performance in the initial 34 overs and their fielding were pivotal in the defeat.
He noted that a player of David Warner’s caliber, if allowed to take a catch during his innings, could prove to be a game-changer.
Babar Azam acknowledged that the match had the potential for a high score, yet they fell short of their expectations. He interpreted the outcome of the match as a message that they have the capability to achieve formidable targets in future contests.
Furthermore, Babar Azam highlighted the significance of enhancing their performance in the first 10 overs of bowling and in the middle overs of batting. He also noted the valuable experience gained from batting under the floodlights and the positive early partnerships established in the game, despite the absence of substantial collaborations.
Earlier, David Warner’s imperious 163 and Adam Zampa’s four-fer orchestrated Australia’s 62-run win over Pakistan in the 18th match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. This marks Australia’s second successive win in the tournament, and conversely Pakistan’s second defeat on the trot.
Pakistan seemed to be in the game until the 39th over of the chase before Iftikhar Ahmed’s dismissal saw the team’s last five wickets fall for 36 runs as they were eventually bundled out for 305 in 45.3 overs. Openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq had initially got the team off to a steady start with the duo scripting a 134-run stand for the first wicket.
Abdullah crafted a 61-ball 64 studded with seven boundaries and two sixes while Imam contributed with 70 off 71 deliveries that included 10 fours. Both of them fell to Marcus Stoinis, whose incisions put Pakistan on the back foot.
Despite Pakistan captain Babar Azam falling early for 18, Pakistan’s middle-order recouped the momentum with decent starts. However, none of Mohammad Rizwan (46, 40b, 5x4s), Saud Shakeel (30, 31b, 5x4s) and Iftikhar Ahmed (26, 20b, 3x6s) could kick on and make a big score.
Zampa was the wrecker-in-chief for Australia, continuing his good form from the previous game where he registered 4-47 in the victory over Sri Lanka in Lucknow.
Earlier, Australia rode on extraordinary tons from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh to post an imposing total of 367-9 in their 50 overs. Warner and Marsh demonstrated a great blend of class and belligerence in their towering 259-run partnership – the third-highest opening stand for Australia in ODIs.
Marsh blasted nine sixes and 10 fours in his 108-ball 121 whereas Warner smoked nine maximums and 14 fours in his 163 off 124 balls. Though Australia looked on track for a score in excess of 400 at one stage, Pakistan were able to drag them back courtesy of Shaheen Shah Afridi’s third ODI five-fer.
The defeat sees Pakistan demoted to fifth on the points table with a net run-rate of -0.456. They will now take on Afghanistan in Chennai for their fifth match of the tournament.
Scores in brief:
Australia beat Pakistan by 62 runs
Australia 367-9, 50 overs (David Warner 163, Mitchell Marsh 121; Shaheen Shah Afridi 5-54, Haris Rauf 3-83)
Pakistan 305 all out, 45.3 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 70, Abdullah Shafique 64; Adam Zampa 4-53, Marcus Stoinis 2-40, Pat Cummins 2-62)
Player of the match – David Warner (Australia)
