Cricket Highlights, 20 October: ICC Cricket World Cup (18^th Match) – Australia vs Pakistan – There is nothing new to say about Pakistan’s defeat in a match after an astounding show. 

Australia vs Pakistan (18th Match) – Highlights

Abdullah Shafiq and Imam-ul-Haq made a strong first impression, inspiring Pakistan to write a new World Cup history in the span of 10 days. However, Babar Azam did not set a record for the bowling skills of Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa. Pakistan departed the field with a loss of 62 runs despite having 27 balls remaining in their possession. 

Australia batted first on Friday (October 20) in the 18th World Cup game played in Bengaluru. In response, after losing all of their wickets in 45.3 overs, Zampa-Stoinis bowled Pakistan for 305 runs.

Pakistan’s pursuit of Sri Lanka‘s 345 runs at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on October 10 set a new World Cup record. Which broke the record of Ireland, who chased the 328 runs scored by England in the 2011 World Cup. Pakistan had the chance to further their record during the same World Cup. But that didn’t happen.

That message was conveyed in the run chase by the two openers, Abdullah Shafique and Imam ul Haque. They scored 134 runs at a 6.38-run rate in 21 overs. The pair reached the mark of fifty together. Marcus Stoinis, however, forbade this pair from going over 150. When Stoinis entered the attack in the 22nd over, he dismissed Shafique with the first ball. After hitting 64 runs in 61 balls with seven fours and two sixes, he came back with a catch in Maxwell’s hands. The 24th over saw Stoinis criticize Imam-ul-Haq once more. After hitting 10 fours and scoring 70 runs off 71 balls, he came back and was caught out by Mitchell Starc.

When it came to the third wicket, Mohammad Rizwan and the captain Babar Azam maintained the tempo. However, this couple was unable to experience the growth. Babar struck Zampa at ridiculous mid-on in the 27th over of the inning before being caught by the flying Pat Cummins. He was out after 18 runs off 14 balls. Rizwan kept one end, though. Together with Saud Shakeel, he added 57 runs to the fourth-wicket total. Rizwan gave hope to the team with Iftikhar Ahmed when Shakil scored 30 runs off 31 balls.

Pakistan was put under pressure after Iftikhar was lbw after 26 runs off 20 balls. Pakistan was eliminated in the 41st over after Rizwan got caught leg-before by an Aussie leg spinner. The wicket-keeper batsman, however, appealed the umpire’s dismissal ruling. It didn’t, though. At 46 runs off 40 balls with 5 fours, his inning came to an end. In the following 28 balls, Pakistan lost its final 4 wickets and was out for 305 runs.

Zampa took 4 wickets for 53 runs and Stoinis took 2 wickets for 40 runs. Pat Cummins took 2 wickets and Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood took 1 wicket each.

Before this, Australia got big capital in the skill of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh. They made 367 runs for the loss off 9 wickets. David Warner played a devastating innings of 163 runs off 124 balls with 14 fours and 9 sixes before falling victim to Haris Rauf. Marsh left the field after scoring 121 runs off 108 balls with 10 fours and 9 sixes. Besides, No one played a noteworthy innings.

Shaheen Afridi was the greatest Pakistani bowler. In 10 overs, he grabbed 5 wickets for 54 runs. Haris Rauf took 3 wickets in the end despite he wasn’t economical. Usama Mir, who came in as Shadab’s replacement, took 1 wicket.

Australia finished fourth in the World Cup points standings with 4 points from 4 games, passing Pakistan. With an equal number of points in equal matches, Pakistan have dropped to five as they are behind in net run rate. New Zealand tops with 8 points from 4 consecutive wins, India with two.

Australia vs Pakistan Scoreboard 

Australia – 367/9 (50.0)   

Pakistan – 305/10 (45.3) 

Result – Australia won by 62 runs

Player of the match – David Warner 

David Warner

Australia vs Pakistan Playing XIs

Relive the thrill of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, where India defeated Bangladesh to win in dominating victory.

As the 2023 Asia Cup season progresses, stay tuned for more exhilarating cricket match highlights and action-packed matches.