#PAKvsAUS: Babar Azam IX given mammoth 368-run target to chase

After putting Australia to bat first, here is test time for Pakistan’s batting lineup!

Australia has set a huge 368-run target for Pakistan in the World Cup 2023 match being played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Friday.

Pakistan put Australia to bat first after winning the toss in their fourth match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Australia’s David Warner smashed a blistering knock of 163 off 124 balls while Mitchell Marsh walked off with a career-best 121.

Both the opening batters put on a masterclass in power hitting against the Green Shirts. They both combined to hit 24 boundaries and 18 sixes to put on a 259-run opening stand.

It was a bad day for Haris Rauf indeed, who conceded 24 runs in his first over. And after conceding 65 runs in 4.1 overs, he finally got Warner caught in the deep when the opener looked to clear the long-on boundary.

Afridi had contained the Assuie batters before the early onslaught but was also denied a hat-trick by Warner.

While Steve Smith fell cheaply for seven when he was caught and bowled by Mir.

Australia later on collapsed with Marcus Stoinis making the next highest score (21) as Shaheen Afridi finished with figures of 5-54 when he cleaned up the tail.

It is to be noted that, 163 by Warner today is highest score by any batter against Pakistan in a World Cup match, his 259 run partnership with Marsh is also highest partnership against Pakistan for any wicket in a World Cup match

Playing XI

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.

Australia: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.