Stoinis eventually removed Shafique (64) and Imam (70) before Adam Zampa claimed the key wicket of their captain, Babar Azam for 18. Shafique and Imam were given lives on 27 and 48 respectively asthe substitute fielder Sean Abbott and the captain, Pat Cummins, put down presentable chances. Pakistan replied with their first World Cup century from the opening partnership since 2015 – 134 between Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq.
Shaheen Afridi finished with figures of five for 54 from his 10 overs and Haris Rauf chipped in with three wickets. They had appeared set for a 400-plus total, but Marcus Stoinis (21) and Josh Inglis (13) were the only other batters to reach double figures as Pakistan took wickets at regular intervals from the 34th over onwards. Their partnership eclipsed Australia’s previous best opening stand of 183 at a World Cup and was the second highest in the competition’s history. Marsh celebrated his 32nd birthday with a second one-day international hundred – 121 coming from 108 deliveries.
