ZCZC
BSP-20
CRICKET-WC-2019-AUS-PAK
Warner hundred sets up Australia World Cup win over Pakistan
TAUNTON, United Kingdom, June 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – David Warner scored his
first international century since completing a ball-tampering ban as
Australia returned to winning ways at the World Cup with a 41-run victory
over Pakistan at Taunton on Wednesday.
Warner made 107 and, with Australia captain Aaron Finch (82), got the
defending champions off to a flying start with an opening stand of 146 — the
highest partnership for any wicket at this World Cup to date.
Mohammad Amir dragged Pakistan back into the game with career-best figures
of five for 30 in 10 overs but Australia still managed to post a challenging
score of 307, which ultimately proved beyond their opponents.
“It means a lot to a batter to get a century,” said man-of-the-match
Warner. “It was a great effort from Pakistan in the end but our bowlers
bowled excellent. They probably got closer than we expected.”
Pakistan, after a middle-order collapse that saw them lose three wickets
for 11 runs in 15 balls, were all but beaten at 200 for seven in the 34th
over.
But captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (40) and the big-hitting Wahab Riaz (45) gave
them renewed hope with a stand of 64.
Australia, who lost to India on Sunday, were again looking to Mitchell
Starc to get them out of a tight spot, as had done in an earlier win over the
West Indies and the fast bowler duly delivered with 2-43.
He had Wahab caught behind got off a thin edge, although it needed an
Australia review of an original not out decision to leave Pakistan 264-8
Two balls later, Amir played on for a duck before Glenn Maxwell ended the
match with a brilliant direct hit run out of Sarfaraz.
– Pakistan chase –
Pakistan’s chase started badly when Fakhar Zaman fell for a duck
uppercutting Cummins to Kane Richardson at third man.
Babar Azam was in superb touch, with 28 of his 30 runs coming in fours,
before he mishooked Nathan Coulter-Nile to deep backward square leg.
Opener Imam-ul-Haq was upping the tempo in his 53 when he gloved Pat
Cummins (3-33) down the legside to wicket-keeper Alex Carey.
Finch, an occasional slow bowler, grabbed a real bonus wicket when
Mohammad Hafeez (46) hit a rank full toss straight to Starc at deep square
leg.
And when Shoaib Malik was brilliantly caught for nought by a diving Carey
after inside edging Cummins, Pakistan were in dire straits at 147-5.
Both Warner and Steve Smith, also returning from a year-long ban for ball-
tampering, had been jeered by fans in previous games but Pakistan fans
largely heeded an appeal from Sarfaraz not to boo the pair, preferring to
roar chants of “Amir!, Amir!”.
Warner completed his 15th one-day international hundred when an edge off
Shaheen Shah Afridi flew past slip for four.
An elated Warner leapt in the air in celebration but his 111-ball innings
ended soon afterwards when he was caught at point off Shaheen, having gone
past fifty for the third time in four innings at this World Cup.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Sarfaraz. “We lost three wickets in 15 balls
and that’s why we lost.
“We conceded too many runs in the first 20 overs apart from Mohammad Amir.
We came back and restricted them well but it was a 270-280 pitch.
“We made some runs and got starts but we’ve got to convert them and go
long. If you want to win matches your top four must score runs.”
Australia have three wins in four matches while Pakistan are struggling,
with just one victory in their four games so far.
BSS/AFP/FI/2357 hrs