Jonny Bairstow in action [AP]
Riding on the fireworks from Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow, England got off to a flying start in their last World Cup 2023 game against Pakistan in Kolkata. Jos Buttler's decision to bat first at the iconic Eden Gardens proved to be a masterstroke, with the English openers unleashing their beast mode after surviving a short new ball burst by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
Whil Malan struck five glorious boundaries for his 39-ball 31, Bairstow's moment of glory came against ace Pakistani speedster Shaheen Afridi, whom he slammed for a glorious six over the third man.
Afridi had a poor start to the fourth over of his first spell, as Bairstow hit him for a boundary on the second ball. Although the left-arm pacer followed it up with a dot ball, the Englishman demoralised him in the next delivery, smashing a magnificent six over the third man.
It was a short ball, angling across Bairstow's right shoulder; however, he took his chance and timed it beautifully for a picturesque six over the third man fence. The explosive batter has completed his fifty and looks all set for a big knock today.
As of writing, England are 102 for one, with Bairstow and Joe Root batting on 55* and 5*, respectively.
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