Australia won by 62 runs in the World Cup match against Pakistan in Bengaluru on Friday, reviving their hopes to clinch the title.

The Green Shirts failed to capitalise on the moment set by the opening pair. Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique made half-centuries in an undefeated opening stand. They were 131-0 at the end of the 20th over with Shafique and Imam both on 62.

Replying to Australia’s 367-9, Pakistan were all out in the 46th over of the game. Skipper Babar Azam could not build a partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan. Azam scored 18 runs.

Pakistan’s successful 345-run chase against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad 10 days ago is the highest in World Cup history.

Adam Zampa grabbed four wickets, including tow important scalps of Rizwan and Azam.

Openers David Warner, with 163, and Mitchell Marsh, who made 121 on his 32nd birthday, earlier put on 259 for the first wicket in Australia’s innings.

Pakistan will need to chase a target of 368 runs to defeat Australia who were put on the driving seat by their opening pair on the back of a record opening partnership against the Green Shirts in the World Cup match played in Bengaluru on Friday.

After amassing 259 runs in the opening partnership, the Aussies lost their first and second wicket after Shaheen Shah Afridi got Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell out on two consecutive deliveries.

Opening batter David Warner scored 163 off 124 balls, while Marsh hit 121 off 108 balls.

The two opening batters scored centuries and registered a new record for the highest opening partnership for Australia in the men’s World Cup.

After a blistering start by Warner and Marsh, which took Australia to 259, other batters could not keep up the momentum as the Aussies lost the next seven wickets in quick session.

For Pakistan Shaheen Shah Afridi took a fifer, conceding 54 runs in his 10 overs. Haris Rauf took three wickets, however, he was the most expensive bowler for Pakistan, having conceded 83 runs in his eight overs.

Pakistan chose to bowl first after winning the toss. However, Australia got off to a fiery as the opening pair added 259 to the total in 34 overs.

Mitchell Marsh and David Warner both made centuries of 86 and 100 balls respectively. Pacer haris Rauf went for 47 runs in just 3 overs.

Pakistan will look to get back on the winning track after being defeated by India in their last outing. They won two of the preceding matches against Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

Australia enter the game looking to get their second win. The kangaroos managed to trounce Sri Lanka in their last match after successive defeats against India and South Africa.

Pakistan dropped Shadab Khan, who has struggled with bowling form.

“It was awesome,” said man of the match Warner. “For us to go out there and put in a performance and a score on the board like that is very pleasing.”

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa then ripped through the middle-order with figures of 4-53 as Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in 45.3 overs, leaving both teams on two wins and as many losses.

Mohammad Rizwan (46) and Saud Shakeel (30) added 57 for the fourth wicket as Pakistan needed 168 from the last 20 overs but Pat Cummins dismissed Saud Shakeel while Zampa accounted for Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed (26) and Mohammad Nawaz (14) to end their resistance.

“The first 34 overs in the bowling and fielding cost us,” admitted Pakistan skipper Babar Azam.

“We dropped Warner and such batters don’t spare you. This is a big-scoring ground and we missed our mark.”

Australia dropped Shafique with substitute Sean Abbott spilling a simple chance over the boundary off Cummins when the opener had made 27 while the skipper then dropped Imam off Zampa when the batsman was on 48.

But Marcus Stoinis’s short-pitched deliveries claimed both the openers within the space of 20 runs while Cummins pulled off a splendid catch at mid-wicket off Adam Zampa to dismiss Babar for 18.

Warner dropped on 10

It was the innings-turning moment when Warner’s miscued shot off Shaheen Shah Afridi ballooned in the air, but Usama Mir – replacing Shadab Khan in the side – let the ball slip between shaking hands.

Warner made the most of his reprieve as he and Marsh hit four boundaries and a six off pacer Haris Rauf’s first over, taking 24 in all.

Australia smashed 82 in the first power-play and completed 200 runs in the 30th over.

Warner completed his second World Cup century – and 21st overall – with a single off spinner Mohammad Nawaz off 85 balls while Marsh reached his second ODI hundred with a six in the same over, taking 100 balls.

Ironically, it was Mir who caught Marsh off Shaheen to break the stand in the 34th over.

Glenn Maxwell, sent in at three to keep up the momentum, fell first ball, caught by Babar off Shaheen while Steve Smith was caught and bowled by Mir for seven.

Warner continued the carnage with three more sixes before falling to Rauf, holing out at long-on.

Australia’s previous highest World Cup opening stand was 183 set by Brad Haddin and Shane Watson against Canada at this same venue in 2011.

Shaheen, who finished with 5-54, helped Pakistan come back in the last ten overs with six wickets falling for 70 runs. Rauf took 3-83.

Pakistan next face Afghanistan in Chennai on Monday while Australia’s next opponents are the Netherlands in New Delhi two days later.

Conditions

ESPNCricinfo reported that Bengaluru will keep short boundaries and a flat pitch, which means lots of runs will be expected. Conditions are likely to remain dry.

Probable squad

Pakistan

1 Abdullah Shafique 2 Imam-ul-Haq 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 5 Saud Shakeel 6 Mohammad Nawaz/Shadab Khan 7 Iftikhar Ahmed 8 Usama Mir 9 Hasan Ali 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi 11 Haris Rauf

Australia

1 David Warner 2 Mitchell Marsh 3 Steven Smith 4 Marnus Labuschagne 5 Josh Inglis (wk) 6 Glenn Maxwell 7 Marcus Stoinis 8 Mitchell Starc 9 Pat Cummins (capt) 10 Adam Zampa 11 Josh Hazlewood