Hyderabad, Oct 3: Australia defeated hapless Pakistan by 14 runs in warm-up match played in Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Glenn Maxwell again underlined his importance to Australia’s World Cup campaign with a dazzling all-round display in their final hit-out before their tournament opener on Sunday.
Australia gave a glimpse of how they could line up against India in Chennai on October 8 with a seemingly full-strength top seven posting 7-351 from 50 overs after Pat Cummins elected to bat first in their second warm-up fixture against Pakistan in Hyderabad. That score was inflated somewhat due to Josh Inglis’ 30-ball 48 coming in at No.8, with both sides able to utilise all 15 members of their squad for the pre-tournament clash.
All of Australia’s batters spent valuable time in the middle ahead of their tournament opener with David Warner continuing his fine run with 48 from 33 balls in a partnership of 83 with Mitch Marsh (31) for the first wicket.Steve Smith (27) and Marnus Labuschagne (40 off 31) also got going, but it was Maxwell (77) who provided the fireworks.
He hit six sixes in his 71-ball stay, including a reverse sweep over point into the stands and another hockey-type slap over cover before he fell reverse sweeping acting captain Shadab Khan to regular skipper Babar Azam. Cameron Green (50no off 40) and Inglis, who bolstered his hopes of inclusion in Australia’s starting XI for next Sunday with a series of stunning reverse ramps and paddles in his 30-ball cameo, lifted the Aussie total well above average (281.75) for side’s batting first at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium since 2010.
Maxwell then added a wicket – following his career-best four-wicket haul in the third ODI against India – as Pakistan were all out for 337 in the 48th over to fall 14 runs short.
“I’ve probably been starved of it over the last little bit so to get some time out in the middle was really nice,” he told the broadcaster during the innings break.
“This World Cup in these conditions is going to be challenging to a lot of people and for our batters to get a lot of time out there, we’ve had the series against India as well, so our batters feel really ready for this tournament.
“My bowling hasn’t changed too much over the years; it’s just about executing and trying to help out our bowling attack as much as I can and we’ve got a few part-time spinners that can chip in here and there and we feel like we’ve got all bases covered.” Australia used their full depth of their squad to complete the 50 overs, with Labuschagne (3-78), Smith (0-40) and Warner (0-41) all rolling the arm over and Babar (90 retired off 59) and Iftikhar Ahmed (83) cashed in, at one point belting 81 runs from six overs.
Cummins (2-34), Sean Abbott (1-31) and Marsh (2-43) were the other wicket takers, while Mitchell Starc finished with 0-35 from six overs. (PTI)
