LIVE BLOG - AUS vs PAK, ICC World Cup 2023: Toss, Score, Videos And Updates From Bangalore

An easy win in the end for Australia. Pakistan were on their way to chase the target and create history but continued to lose wickets regularly at the latter half of their innings, eventually getting bowled out for 305 runs.

This is Australia's consecutive win the World Cup, while Pakistan have lost two games on the bounce.

We have a double-header tomorrow. Two big matches await. Do not forget to join us here at OneCricket. Until then, toodles!

Australia Win!!!

That's it. It's done and dusted. Shaheen Shah Afridi is the last one to fall as Australia clinch a massive 62-run win.

Hasan Ali gloves the ball to the wicket-keeper. The catch gets taken and  Australia are one wicket away from the victory.

8 down now!!!

Pakistan have fallen apart and how. Zampa has unleased himself on them. The leggie scalps the wicket of Mohammad Nawaz now.

Another one bites the dust!!!

Only a mere formality remains now as Pakistan are seven down with Usama Mir too having a long walk back to the dressing room.

WICKET!!!

Zampa strikes again. It's another leg before wicket. Rizwan perishes and so does Pakistan's hope of winning this one.

The equation is set. 96 runs are needed off 60 balls for Pakistan to win. They are this close from a historic achievement. However, Australia are still pretty much the favourites to win from here.

Target under 100 runs. Meanwhile, Australia have taken a review for LBW. It's OUT! Iftikhar has to go. Zampa sends the big fish packing.

Brute force from Iftikhar Ahmed!

He swivels one to the backward square leg and clears the boundary with disdain. And, wait, he has again smashed it over that area and it's six again. Pakistan are on the charge now.

Pakistan 252/4 in 37 overs.

WICKET!!! 

Captain Cummins delivers. Shakeel is a goner. Australia are back in it.

Shottt Shakeellll!

Saud Shakeel made a mockery of Starc. He first brings the pull out of his armour to fetch a four and then goes cheeky behind the square to attain the same result. Pakistan are on course to create history.

Pakistan 222/3 in 33 overs.

Pakistan are smashing at least one boundary every over. They are doing it the right way. But Australia know they need only one wicket to push Pakistan back to an uneasy position. Interesting, let's see who blinks first.

Important bit of play going on. If Pakistan do not take their run-rate up soon, this could be the end for them in respect of the match. T20 cricket will take over from here as The Men in Green need 168 runs in 120 runs.

CAPATIN CATCHES CAPATIN!!!

Zampa wins the battle versus Babar again as Pakistan now are moving towards a downfall.

We are halfway through this innings and Pakistan are pretty much in it. The ongoing partnership between Babar and Mohammad Rizwan will be the key. The more they bat at at a pace in line with the required rate, the better for Pakistan.

Pakistan 169/2 in 25 overs.

WICKET!!!

Stoinis is running into Pakistan with the ball. Another set batter departs. The pressure of rising required rate caused Imam's undoing as he handed a catch at square third-man, trying to up the ante.

Babar Azam is quick off the blocks and starts off his innings with two boundaries. 

WICKET!!!

Marcus Stoinis brought in to the attack and he strikes on his first ball. Shafique gets bounced while playing a pull and hands an easy catch within the circle. Australia seemed to have sorted out the butter fingers.

Signs of aggression from Shafique and Imam as the duo takes down Maxwell with three boundaries in three boundaries in an over. 15 runs come off it.

Pakistan 131/0 in 20 overs.

Half-centuries for Shafique and Imam!

Another Drop!!! 

Get the hands checked. The ball is just not sticking to them today. A tough chance but Cummins had all in him to take this.

Spinners are putting the pressure from both the ends, tightening the screws in this crucial juncture of the match.

Pakistan 97/0 in 16 overs.

SIX!!!

Shafique is cutting loose and is mostly dealing in boundaries at the moment.

Pakistan 90/0 in 14 overs.

#LEARNAUSTRALIA #LEARNPAKSITAN

OH, NO!!!

What have you done, Sean Abbott? He was stationed at the edge of the square-leg boundary. Shafique plays a pull straight to him but a chance goes begging and moreover, it's a six. 

Runs are drying up!!!

Imam and Shafique are happy to rotate the strike but they need to wary of dot balls. Boundaries are not coming either as Australia now see an opportunity of breaking the Pakistan opening partnership. 

Pakistan 59/0 in 10 overs.

Dots are piling up. In last three overs. Pakistan have gathered only eight runs. Something's got to give now. 

A maiden from Hazlewood as Shafique looked at sea throughout the over. Pakistan cannot afford to waste deliveries as the required rate will climb up with every dot.

Imam has hit two hundreds in his last three ODI innings versus Australia and he is well on track for another big score. Starc is being belted away as Pakistan moves to 40/0 in 5 overs.

Starc gives width and Shafique is a good enough batter to pounce on it. Two boundaries in Starc's second gets Shafique going.

Some Team India News For You!

Josh Hazlewood nails fit dot balls are conceding a boundary in the first ball of his spell. keeping Imam on the backfoot. AUS 12/0 after 2 overs.

Starc finds it difficult to keep the ball to the right area. He has already bowled four wides. And now he is changing his boot. That seemed to have worked, at least for now as he is back on to his usual testing line and length.

Run-chase beckons! 

We are back for the chase. Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq are the crease. Mitchell Starc will open the bowling for Australia. 

Brilliant comeback by Pakistan. To restrict Australia to 367/9 is nothing short of a miracle, considering how things were looking up until 40 overs. Pakistan will beat their own record of the highest successful run-chase in the ODI World Cup history if they gets through the target today.

Fifer for Eagle Shaheen Afridi!

A tremendous comeback by Pakistan's leader of pace attack. He gets a deserving fifer as Australia have self destruct. At one stage, they were all set to cross the 400-run mark, but some brilliant bowling, led by Afridi has pulled things back for Pakistan.

Stoinis' scratchy innings ends!

He was looking scratchy and Shaheen gets another big wicket. He goes for an unnecessary slog by moving across the wicket and gets plumbed in front. 3 for 48 for Shaheen so far.

Stat attack!

This is the highest total against Pakistan in all World Cups. Pakistan need to bat out of their skins to win this contest. 347/5 in 46 overs.

Another one bites the dust!

Pakistan have pulled things back brilliantly. 5 down in no time. After conceding plenty of runs, Rauf has returned with crucial wickets of Warner and Inglis. The short ball does the trick as Inglis misses his shot and Rizwan takes a simple catch. A great passage of play for the Men in Green! 340/5 inside 45 overs.

Pakistan have tightened things! DW Departs

At one stage it looked like Australia will easily breach the 400-run mark, but the Pakistan side have tightened things in the last few overs. They have picked up 4 wickets, and will hope to restrict the Aussies to somewhere around 360-470. Even that will be a challenging total. Warner was trying to clear the long-on boundary, but Rauf's slower one does the trick 

There goes Steve Smith 😳

Three quick wickets and Pakistan can have a sigh of relief. Usama Mir gets his maiden ODI wicket. Smith plays a nothing shot as the ball goes straight back to Usama in his follow-through. A simple caught and bowled. Smith's poor form in ODIs continues. 287 for 3 inside 39 overs.

Two in two for Shaheen!

Finally some respite for Pakistan and Shaheen Afridi after that onslaught. He first got the crucial wicket of Mitchell Marsh, and the very next ball, he trapped the big fish in Glenn Maxwell. Australia 259/2 inside 34 overs.

400 on the cards? 

Merciless batting from Warner and Marsh. Pakistan bowlers look helpless. This is some batting despite good conditions out there. 231/2 inside 32.2

Hundred for Warner and Marsh 😍

Majestic hundreds from two majestic players. This has been some partnership by these two. An outstanding innings by the Aussie openers. This is Warner's 21st ODI ton and fourth successive vs Pakistan. Moreover, this is Marsh's 2nd ODI century 

Rauf taken to the cleaners 😱

This is a great exhibition of power-hitting from Warner and Marsh. The duo has taken a special liking towards Haris Rauf, hammering him for 24 runs in his first over. The fiery pacer has so far conceded 47 runs in 3 overs. 120/0 in 14.1 overs.

Haris Rauf has been welcomed by a boundary and a GIGANTIC MAXIMUM over fine-leg by Davey Warner. A couple more off Marsh's blade. 20 runs and counting... and a four again! 24 runs off Haris Rauf's first over. AUS - 67/0 in 9 overs.

Pain of a Pakistan fan 

DROPPPPPEDDD BY USAMA MIR 😳

What have you done, Usama? That's a massive miss and Pakistan team cannot believe it. An inch perfect short ball from Shaheen as Warner miscues the pull. Usama stationed at mid-on had a simple catch to pounce on, but he made a mess of it. You grab these 10 out of 10 times....

Another stat on your way!

Australia have played a total of 10 ODIs in Bengaluru, winning four, losing five, and the remaining was a no result 🔥

What was the need for this review, Babar? 😪

Another day, Another Pakistan blunder. Shaheen convinced Babar to go for an LBW review. Shaheen was so persistent that Babar went for the review. Length ball that struck the inside-part of the bat and then hit the pad. Error of judgement by the Men in Green!

Stat Attack!

The last time Pakistan beat Australia in an ODI World Cup was in 2011. Can they break the jinx? 

Shaheen vs Warner and Marsh - The key battle

Chinnaswamy is a small ground and by opting to field first, Babar has put all his hopes on Shaheen to fire against Australia's opening pair. The ball will certainly come onto the bat nicely and it's going to be a challenge for Shaheen to stop them 

Australia go unchanged

Interesting decision by the Aussies 🤔 The Men in Yellow hardly chop and change their playing XIs.

Toss Updates!

Pakistan have won the toss and Babar Azam has elected to bowl first 😎 One change for the Pakistan team. Shadab Khan gets the axe as Usama Mir gets the nod for this crucial clash.

Team Preview Pakistan

In contrast, Pakistan commenced its World Cup journey with an enviable flair. Claiming decisive victories over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, they were looking formidable until they clashed with arch-rivals India.

India proved to be a stumbling block, revealing vulnerabilities in Pakistan's middle order and leaving their bowlers searching for answers. To get back to winning momentum and bring their campaign back on track, Pakistan's middle-order batsmen and spinners will have to recalibrate and deliver against an Australian side that's seeking resurgence.

Team Preview Australia

Five-time World Cup champions Australia haven't had the smoothest start to their campaign this year. Facing a discouraging start, the Aussies suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of powerhouses India and South Africa. They were defeated by India with six wickets to spare and then brutally outplayed by South Africa, who thrashed them by 134 runs.

Their saving grace came when they faced Sri Lanka, securing a commanding win. Nevertheless, their inconsistency, especially from the top order, and Steve Smith's lack of form have been pressing concerns. The Australian pacers, usually a formidable force, have also been relatively subdued, unable to strike consistently. The team will be itching to address these issues and gain momentum by defeating Pakistan.

It's a new dawn, it's a new day🎶 It's Australia vs Pakistan!

This is Muskaan Bhatt from OneCricket and I'm back with another live blog with all the updates right from Bangalore.