‘Laut aao Zimbabwe, tum kahan ho?’ – Fans react as Pakistan suffer their 2nd loss of ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia in Bengaluru

Australia and Pakistan locked horns in the 18th match of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, October 20. The Australian displayed a stunning all-round performance to dismiss the Men in Green by 62 runs and register their 2nd win of the tournament.

Talking about the match, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh showcased a phenomenal opening partnership, amassing a remarkable 259-run opening stand on a flat pitch, with both of them notching up centuries. However, Pakistan had an early chance to dismiss Warner when Usama Mir dropped a straightforward catch, and that proved costly for them.

However, as the game progressed, Pakistan managed to mount a fightback, especially as the ball aged and started gripping the surface, making it challenging for the new batters to find their rhythm. Shaheen Afridi, who was in resurgent form, emerged as the standout performer among the bowlers, achieving his first five-wicket haul in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Towards the end of the innings, the Pakistani bowlers made a commendable comeback, and Australia struggled, losing six wickets for a mere 70 runs in the final 10 overs. Despite a strong start from the openers, the rest of the Australian batting lineup had a tough time, and they were limited to a total of 367 runs. Interestingly, at one point, it seemed like the Kangaroos might surpass the 400-run mark.

Brilliant bowling by Adam Zampa

Chasing the target, Pakistan had a great start as openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haque stitched a 134-run stand for the first wicket. However, the Men in Green encountered difficulties as Marcus Stoinis of the Australian team managed to dismiss both opening batters in the 22nd and 24th overs. 

Additionally, in the 27th over, Adam Zampa took the wicket of Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, who left the field after scoring 18 runs. However, later in the game, Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel provided stability for the team. Unfortunately, the Australian captain Pat Cummins removed Shakeel at a pivotal juncture in the match.

Iftikhar Ahmed came to bat and displayed some massive shots and hit 3 sixes. On the other hand, Rizwan kept one end safe. But the Australian magician, Adam Zampa dismissed both of them and ended the hope for the Pakistan team to win the match. The Men in Green were restricted to 305 runs and fell 62 runs short of the win.

Here’s how fans reacted: