David Warner thunders Australia to crucial World Cup win over Pakistan

Australia leapfrogged Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup standings with an impressive 62-run victory in Bengaluru. Hundreds from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh in a record opening partnership of 259 laid the foundations for a total of 367 for nine and a win which puts Australia in contention for a semi-final spot after defeats to India and South Africa.

Warner’s 163 from 124 balls, his fifth World Cup century and the highest individual score of the tournament, came after he was dropped on 10, with Usama Mir spilling a steepling catch.

Marsh celebrated his 32nd birthday with a second one-day international hundred – 121 coming from 108 deliveries. Their partnership eclipsed Australia’s previous best opening stand of 183 at a World Cup and was the second highest in the competition’s history.

They had appeared set for a 400-plus total, but Marcus Stoinis (21) and Josh Inglis (13) were the only other batters to reach double figures as Pakistan took wickets at regular intervals from the 34th over onwards. Shaheen Afridi finished with figures of five for 54 from his 10 overs and Haris Rauf chipped in with three wickets.

Pakistan replied with their first World Cup century from the opening partnership since 2015 – 134 between Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq. Shafique and Imam were given lives on 27 and 48 respectively asthe substitute fielder Sean Abbott and the captain, Pat Cummins, put down presentable chances.

Stoinis eventually removed Shafique (64) and Imam (70) before Adam Zampa claimed the key wicket of their captain, Babar Azam for 18.

Mohammad Rizwan, with 46 from 40 balls, and some lusty hitting from Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed, gave Pakistan hope of achieving a record World Cup chase. But Zampa took four for 53 and Australia turned the screw to dismiss Pakistan for 305 in 45.3 overs and move up to fourth in the table.

“We’ve set the benchmark in the last two games and we’ve got to keep it up,” Cummins told Sky Sports. “That was a great win. That was proper from [Warner and Marsh], it set the tone of how we really want to play our cricket. They took the game on with 80-odd in the powerplay and you can’t ask for anything more. To bat 25 to 30 overs was big. This is a tough stadium and pitch sometimes to bowl, but we stuck at it. We stayed aggressive with a good use of bouncers.”

Pakistan are now outside the all-important top four, dropping below Australia on net run rate after successive defeats. Skipper Babar said: “We were not up to the mark, and if you drop catches like David Warner they will not spare you. We started well at the top of the order but then we had small partnerships in the middle overs, and not big partnerships.”