Cricket World Cup 2019: David Warner century sees Australia past Pakistan

Australia 307, Pakistan 266 - Australia win by 41 runs: Warner's knock took the game out of Pakistan's reach to make it three wins in four for his side

Australia didn’t really play especially well to win this game. Much of their cricket was functional, muscular and well organised in contrast to a Pakistan team who showed occasional flashes of genius but ultimately flattered to deceive as on so many occasions in the past.

Australia’s 41-run win, built on the back of a typically bullish hundred from their little-loved opener David Warner, was relatively comprehensive in the end, despite some lower order fireworks from Wahab Riaz, who smashed 45 off 39 balls to take the game deep.

But Australia were always ahead by a nose and another fine two-wicket burst from Mitchell Starc just as Pakistan threatened to pull off the unlikeliest of chases saw his team home.

When Warner and fellow opener Aaron Finch were larruping the ball to all corners of the ground, chalking up a 146 run first-wicket partnership in 22 overs, the tiny spattering of Australian supporters inside a ground dominated by swathes of Pakistan green, might have expected an even wider victory margin.

But Pakistan, so hot one minute and cold the next, clawed their way back into contention largely thanks to a wonderfully directed spell from Mohammad Amir towards the end of Australia’s innings and then Wahab’s late heroics with the bat.

Amir bowled full and fast to finish with tournament best figures of 10-2-30-5 as Australia were reduced from 223 for two in the 34th over to 307 all out in the 49th.

Warner’s knock of 107 from 111 balls held the innings together while Finch rode his luck to thump 82 from 83 balls, but with Steve Smith falling for a poorly-constructed 10 and no other batsman making a significant contribution, the relative frailty of Australia’s batting was exposed once again.

A victory target of 308 always looked on the steep side for Pakistan and only briefly, when first their aesthetically pleasing No 3 Babar Azam and opener Imam Ul-Haq were in full flow, did Pakistan seriously threaten.

After slumping to 200 for seven, Wahab then injected life into the Pakistan innings again but when Starc ended his cameo, caught behind on review, so too went his side’s faint hopes of victory.

Warner made it to three figures (PA)

But international sport is rarely won but flowery cameos such as Baber’s or Wahab’s and it was Warner’s dogged aggression and brute power at the top of Australia’s order which ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.

For obvious and well-documented reasons Warner will win few popularity contests as he pursues his career but there’s no doubting his ability to get under the skin of opponents while scoring runs at a decent lick at the top of Australia’s order.

On his day, along with Smith, he can carry his team.

His innings of 107 here, coming off 111 balls and including 11 fours and a six, was not especially pleasing on the eye but, unlike Babar, he dug in and played for his team.

Warner's knock proved crucial (Getty Images)

He reached his 100 with a streaky edge between slip and wicketkeeper off the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi, before embarking on a typically thrusting show of machismo, pelvic thrusting and helmet kissing to show us just how much he cared about reaching three figures. Go you good thing, said no-one in the ground.

Warner was out soon after but his job had been done. While Pakistan’s batting had gone large against England when batting first, there was always a suspicion they would struggle under the scoreboard pressure which comes with chasing a big-total batting second in white ball cricket.

And so they did.

Imam (53) and Babar (30) had their moments while Hasan Ali briefly reignited the crowd with a lusty knock of 32 from 15 balls after Pakistan had slipped to 160 for 60 in the 30th over.

But at no point did Pakistan seriously threaten, even when Wahab was on the charge, as Australia bounced back from defeat against India to record their third win in four games.

Pakistan never really threatened to chase the total down (PA)

Pat Cummins was by some distance the pick of Australia’s bowlers as he picked up three for 33 from 10 overs while Starc was excellent again at the death, getting rid of Wahab in perfect time.

Australia’s support act was adequate enough to contain a Pakistan batting line up but with Glenn Maxwell employed as their front-line spinner their attack was unthreatening, notwithstanding Starc and Cummins.

Pakistan, the team that looked brilliant against England looked decidedly average here. They play India at Old Trafford on Sunday when they could well look brilliant again. They will need to be or else their tournament hopes will be placed on life support.

Australia were good enough. Although whether they contain enough depth to win the whole tournament remains to be seen.