David Warner’s superb 163 inspired Australia to a 62-run victory over Pakistan as they breathed life back into their World Cup campaign.
Warner shared a stand of 259 for the first wicket with Mitchell Marsh, who made 121, before Pakistan fought back.
Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi took 5-54 to help limit the Aussies to 367-9.
Imam-ul-Haq (70) and Abdullah Shafique (64) gave Pakistan a start but when Mohammad Rizwan departed for 46 to Adam Zampa, Australia closed out the game.
Pakistan had already chased a World Cup record total of 345 against Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament, but fell short of repeating the feat.
In a World Cup in which there has been a dearth of close encounters, this match at least threatened to go to the wire before Pakistan’s batting crumpled.
An opening stand of 134 from Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq provided a platform, only for both men to fall to the medium pace of Marcus Stoinis (2-40).
Australia skipper Pat Cummins redeemed himself for an earlier drop with a fine catch to get rid of counterpart Babar Azam (18) before Rizwan’s dismissal, trapped plumb in front to the impressive Zampa, effectively signalled the end of the match as a contest.
Warner and Marsh had earlier batted with the kind of zest hitherto absent from Australia’s performances in the tournament thus far. (BBC sport)
Scores:
Australia 367 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 305 in 45.3 overs
