An “us against the world” attitude has put Australia back in the race for the World Cup after David Warner and Mitchell Marsh blasted them to a 62-run victory over Paksitan in Bengaluru.
Warner and Marsh unleashed magnificent tons at the top of the order as the Aussies looked on course for 400 at one stage before posting 9-367 on the back of their record-breaking 259-run opening stand.
No player epitomises the backs to the wall, fight your way out of a corner mentality more than Warner who has been forced to defend his ongoing selection in the final months of his international career.
But he proved his critics wrong with a belligerent innings to lift Australia to a 2-2 record, which lifts Australia into fourth spot behind unbeaten leaders New Zealand and India, with South Africa (3-1) in third.
India are red-hot favourites to lift the Cup on home soil but the Aussies at least now are playing with an intensity which can put them in the contest if they face the host nation again in the semis or final.
Mitch Marsh. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Marsh belted 121 off 108 deliveries, including 10 fours and nine sixes, to be the first to go in the 34th over while Warner soldiered on before he was finally out for 163 from 124, finding the boundary 14 times and clearing it on nine more occasions.
After their lacklustre losses to India and South Africa to start the tournament, Australia turned their fortunes around with a lift in intensity in their win over Sri Lanka and they were again noticeably more energised in all facets of play as they put away Pakistan.
Babar Azam’s side did not die wondering in their run-chase – Abdullah Shafique (64) and Imam-ul-haq (70) put on 134 for their first wicket inside 22 overs and they kept within striking distance for most of their innings but regular wickets eventually brought them undone.
After the frontline bowlers failed to make the initial breakthrough, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (2-40) got rid of both openers before Pat Cummins (2-62) and Adam Zampa (4-53) kept the wickets flowing as Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in the 47th over.
Warner looked to be hampered by an ongoing groin problem but after the match insisted it was “all cramps”.
His regular opening partner Travis Head could be available for Australia’s next assignment against the Netherlands at Delhi on Wednesday after flying into camp with his broken hand nearly healed.
A stone-faced David Warner celebrates his century after his trademark leap against Pakistan at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
With the Australian campaign back on level footing, the selectors could give him an extra match to get his hand right with a showdown against New Zealand at Dharamsala looming next Saturday.
When he is brought into the side, the selectors are likely to drop Marsh back to No.3 and send Steve Smith back a slot with Marnus Labuschagne squeezed out of the line-up.
Stoinis cemented his spot with his two-wicket contribution – he dismissed Shafique with his opening delivery and tempted Imam-ul-Haq to deep third man.
Zampa has been ill and was still bothered by his back problem but after taking the big scalps of Babar (18) and Rizwan (46) in his four-wicket spell, Cummins was hugely impressed.
“Lazarus has been awesome,” the captain said with a smile
“He has been in bed the last week or two. Showed his class, he is a real wicket-taker for us in the middle.”
For the centurions, it was Warner’s 21st, which puts him eight behind all-time leader Ricky Ponting, while Marsh had not reached triple figures in the ODI arena since 2016, with his third ton coming on his 32nd birthday.
Fittingly, they brought up their milestones in back-to-back deliveries in the 31st over with Marsh following up Warner’s single with a superb cover-drive to the boundary.
Warner was the beneficiary of an amateurish piece of fielding in the fifth over when Usama Mir fumbled a sitter at mid-on from the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Usama was then tonked for 1-82 from nine overs when he bowled while Afridi was easily Pakistan’s best bowlers to bag 5-54.
“That was proper from those two,” Cummins said of his openers.
“It set the tone, it’s how we want to play our cricket. To take 80-odd in the powerplay was impressive, we can’t ask for anything more than that.”
After appearing way too casual, particularly in the field, in their first two matches, the Australians have hit their stride and while there are still obvious flaws in their line-up, they are now in with a fighting chance of winning the World Cup just a week after it looked like they wouldn’t even make the semis.
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
It's just that my memories are of channel 9 coverage. Not that Chapelli didn't drive me nuts and don't get me started on Mark Taylor but there was a good mix of the crowd noise and the commentary teams this coverage seems really flat in comparison. I quite miss Bill and Tony and the master Ritchie
Polymath
Roar Rookie
Dropped catches paid dividends, not the pitiful whingeing about umpires and DRS. ‘Siege mentality’? What a joke.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
I liked him in the SL game bowling throat balls. I mean always hate seeing someone get scones but he seemed to really rattle them. Bowls a heavy ball when he tries and the trajectory is flatter compared to the tall timber
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
I prob wouldn’t have picked him But love him
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yeah, agreed...but for me, his square of the wicket stuff is as good as it gets. His decision making about front or back foot is so good. I'd be tempted to consider him staying there in Tests when Davy goes. He seems finally injury free and that has enabled him to find his mojo.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
The thing is, when in form Maxey’s instincts serve him well, and he executes enough of the time to get some great results, even if it can be inconsistent. Since he’s come back from injury, those instincts are letting him down so his shot selection is off. I thought that 31* you mention might set him on track, but the first ball dismissal vs Pak suggested he’s not getting it together yet. But definitely keep him in the team ahead of Stoinis.
matth
Roar Guru
You could be right, I was just saying he could be the best hit through line player on earth right now
matth
Roar Guru
Not at all. I wasn’t thinking of him at all, just the Marsh would be a great VC
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I've worked with good and bad managers over the decades and the standout for me is that good managers know their limitations and are not scared to admit it. Bad managers think they know everything and are too proud to admit when they're wrong In this case, the real questions you're posing are, why was McDonald chosen as coach and can anyone who has not played all forms of cricket at the international level, be considered for this role? Good coaches need to be very keen students of the sports they're trying to "teach". They obviously need to be good with people, but also know their own limitations. You're right, some players will probably ignore McDonald because of his cricket record, but I think that's a mistake. At the least, his opinions should be respected and considered.
sedz
Roar Rookie
Yes last stage of the league will be interesting if there are couple of upsets again. England only have to blame themselves for their loss against Afghanistan. If not they'd up there with Pakistan and Australia.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
1. just looked at the table and suddenly we are 4th, and have played two of the teams above us. destiny in our hands... and the NRR, aggressive batting last two games - it separates us now from Pakistan 2. bizarre table, and perfect for us - 5 teams are 1 and 3 from 4. almost impossible to achieve. but puts us a win AND run rate ahead of them all. 3. how much fun is Mark Wood's battng when he is swinging with no hope and pure celebration?
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
i reckon if you ask Maxwell he will say "the shot was there, I knew where he would bowl, the field was x y z... I just didn't execute) the way he plays is how you strike at 123 in ODi - over a massively long and storied career how you go at 180 in the most recent IPL how you go at 150+ in T20I over a decade people who don't like him already had all the ammo they wanted and now they have one more. big whoop. --- me. the obvious consideration is (a) that situation had Inglis all over it, a new guy with more conventional technique who still went at 100 the night before, a much more natural foil for the rampaging Warner. and I said that before Marsh got out. but more importantly, and Hayden went on about it - but with no insight - he didn't keep his shape. this is what we know of Maxwell. He stands, braces, and then it's 90% wrist. why can't he stand and deliver at the moment - he has no feel in the lower leg, no calf strength. it's obvious when he bowls, fields, and when he bats. he's tentative and proppy, and has been saying so. and it probably will affect his batting from here on in (he's revealed the bone damage was so bad they almost amputated his foot.) bowling 10 overs and being with warner the guys who have to hustle in the field, it will be taking its toll
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
we clearly Maxwell played some less dreadful shots in that succession unless you are conveniently ignoring his 31* assault to bring the run rate down? yes, I guess you are
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
ball = game
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
Maxwell has a version of groove, been bowling well and was 28 from his first 14 the ball before. i would almost be inclined to rest him against Netherlands to let him get leg recovery etc Make Head play and make him bowl Maxwell's overs. Then the selection squeeze
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
Coetzee is pretty handy too. silly headband but cranks 145 effortlessly. not Nortje but zippier than any of our "quicks"
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
1. yes. they have belief. belief is not execution. but they went hard against SL to boost the NRR and got there well enough 2. Definite no. Biggest weakness in team. 3. Can't judge from Pakistan game. See answer ro #1 as well. 3a. fielding getting better. thankfully.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
Another massive moral win for England. South Africa learnt well from last world cup final, so they did hit more boundaries and sixes than England, not leaving anything to chance, you never know if just in case another "rule" pops up, better be prepared. Though i am not sure this kind of hammering is within spirit of cricket when it is done against England.
sedz
Roar Rookie
Biggest peeve for England is their own bowling stocks. Wood was inconsistent, Rashid is past his date, Wokes never a good bowler outside Eng/NZ conditions, Sam Curran doesn’t have the pace to threaten but can bat, also most of their bowlers Willey or Topley can bat not intimidating enough for opposition. SA looks threatening especially given their batsman’s form including Klassen, Qdk, Markram, Van der Dussen. Also very handy knock from Jansen. Totally a different team than England that fires from all cylinders.
sedz
Roar Rookie
England is crashing out of the tournament pretty quickly. Seems to be like SA is the team of the tournament and anyone who wins them will win the WC.