- Pakistan fall short in steep chase as Australia bowlers keep it tight. Babar Azam and company get bundled out for 305 in pursuit of a steep 368-run target
- Pakistan is at 232/4 in 35 overs. Pat Cummins takes a wicket as Shakeel skies one with a thick outside edge, well caught by Marcus Stoinis. Shakeel departs for 30 off 31 balls. Iftikhar Ahmed joins Rizwan at the crease but faces four dot balls, setting up a crucial phase in the match
- Pakistan loses their openers and skipper after a solid start. Abdullah Shafique (64 off 61) and Imam ul-Haq (70) departed to Marcus Stoinis. Babar Azam (18) also falls, caught by Pat Cummins off Adam Zampa. Pakistan is at 196/3 after 29.4 overs, needing 172 runs to win from 20.2 overs. The chase is finely balanced
- Both openers have completed their half century. Australia desperate to get the breakthrough
- Pakistan's openers show resilience as they chase Australia's mammoth 367. Their 100-run partnership is the first by Pakistani openers since 2019. After 18 overs, Pakistan is at 112/0, setting a strong foundation for their chase
- Pakistan start their chase
Openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh struck blazing centuries as Australia scored 367 for 9 in their World Cup match against Pakistan here on Friday.
For Pakistan, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed five wickets.
Warner smashed a 124-ball 163, while Marsh scored 121 off 108 deliveries as the two were involved in a 259-run opening partnership that formed the cornerstone of the big total.
However, Australia suffered two blows when Marsh and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (0) departed one after the other with the score on 259 as Pat Cummins' side suffered a minor setback.
Both the wickets were taken by Afridi, who returned with figures of 5 for 54 in his 10 overs, while Haris Rauf scalped three wickets as Pakistan made some amends in the back end of the innings.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl. Australia played an unchanged side while Pakistan brought Usama Mir in place of vice-captain Shadab Khan.
Brief scores: Australia: 367 for 9 in 50 overs (David Warner 163, Mitchell Marsh 121, Marcus Stoinis 21; Shaheen Shah Afridi 5/54, Haris Rauf 3/83).
