Cricket World Cup 2023: David Warner and Mitchell Marsh centuries help Australia power past Pakistan

Australia secured back-to-back victories at the 2023 Cricket World Cup on Friday with a 62-run win over Pakistan.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field in Bangalore, but that did not faze the Australians who produced an incredible first-wicket stand of 259 in a total of 367/9.

Aside from their batting exploits, Adam Zampa’s performance will rightly take plenty of plaudits after taking 4-53 from his 10 overs as Pakistan came up short in their chase.

David Warner and Mitchell Marsh both made centuries, with 163 and 121 runs respectively, but it could have been different had Usama Mir not dropped a simple chance when Warner was on 10.

Marsh was dismissed first after being caught by Mir at short fine leg.

Warner hit a total of nine sixes and 14 fours as part of a mammoth stint at the crease, before he was eventually caught by substitute Shadab Khan at long-on.

From that point, Pakistan made good headway through the rest of the Australian batting order, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking 5-54 from his 10 overs.

Australia's momentum was checked by a flurry of wickets, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood both for ducks, but th superb start enabled them to post a formidable total of 367/9.

Pakistan responded in some style with an impressive opening partnership of 134, a run ended when Abdullah Shafique was caught by Maxwell at mid-wicket from the bowling of Marcus Stoinis.

The wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed for 26 proved to be decisive, with the 33-year-old hitting three sixes before the Australians called a DRS review that determined he was lbw off the bowling of Zampa.

From that point, there was a feeling the momentum had shifted back in Australia's favour, and Mohammad Rizwan quickly followed for 46.

The job was done in the 46th over when Marnus Labuschagne caught Shaheen off the bowling of Pat Cummins for 10, as Pakistan were bowled out for 305.

Australia are back in action against Netherlands next Wednesday in Delhi, while Pakistan face Afghanistan in Chennai on Monday.

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