Hyderabad: Australia made an emphatic statement that they are all set for the World Cup after defeating Pakistan by 14 runs in a warm-up match played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Despite opening the gates to fans after conducting the opening game between Pakistan and New Zealand behind closed doors, the turnout was poor.
Batting first, Glenn Maxwell (77) and Cameron Green (50 not out) hit half-centuries to fire Australia to a strong 351 for 7. Australian openers David Warner (48 — 33b, 4x4, 3x6) and Mitchel Marsh (31 — 48b, 2x4, 2x6) began their innings smoothly with an 83-run stand for the first wicket.
To put a halt to their run flow, the Pakistan skipper Shadab Khan introduced Usman Mir (2 for 31) who accounted for Warner and Marsh in his first and second over respectively. Marnus Labuschagne with his 31-ball 40-run knock revived their innings before being caught by wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris in the bowling of Mohammad Nawaz (1 for 34) in the 24th over.
Maxwell hit four boundaries and six over it in his 71-ball essay. He was dismissed by Shadab (1 for 69) before Green propelled their innings with his fine knocks. Josh Inglis (48 – 30b, 8x4, 1x6) shared an 83-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Green. His innings came to an end in the 49th over of Mohammad Wasim (1 for 69). Green then hit two boundaries in the final over to take his side past the 350-run mark.
In response, chasing the target, Pakistan lost openers Fakhar Zaman (22 – 24b, 4x4) and Imam-ul-Haq (16 – 11b, 3x4) within the first seven overs and were at 49 for 2 after 10 overs. Though conditions were ideal for the batters, but the Australian bowling attack restricted the Pakistan top-order not to score big. Their first maximum came at 14.5 overs by Shadab (9 — 8b, 1x6). However, he was dismissed for the next ball.
Iftikhar Ahmed scored 83 that came off in 85 balls and included six fours and four maximums while Babar Azam scored a quickfire 59-ball 90 with the help of 11 boundaries and two sixes to put on a strong fifth-wicket stand of 144 to put their side on track. However, Babar retired hurt when his team reached 255 for 5. Nawaz hammered 50 in 42 balls laced with six fours and one over it. But their efforts went in vain. For Australia Labuschagne snared three while conceding 78 runs.
Warner, the former Sunrisers Hyderabad captain, once again stole the show with his dance moves for Butta Bomma, a Telugu movie song. It all happened when he was fielding near the boundary in the second innings. Fans sitting in the front rows cheered his dance with whistles.
Brief scores: Australia 351/7 in 50 overs (Glenn Maxwell 77, Cameron Green 50 n. o, Josh Inglis 48, David Warner 48; Usama Mir 2/31) bt Pakistan 337 in 47.4 overs (Babar Azam retd hurt 90, Iftikhar Ahmed 83, Mohammad Nawaz 50; Marnus Labuschagne 3/78, Pat Cummins 2/34, Mitchell Marsh 2/43).
