At Bengaluru’s famous M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Pakistan and Australia are set for a cricket showdown. Both began the tournament ambitiously but faced early hurdles.
Pakistan had a bumpy start, surprisingly struggling against teams considered easier opponents, with their loss to India standing out. They’re now fourth on the table.
Australia, boasting five World Cup titles, came in as favorites but have faltered, winning just one of three matches and sitting eighth.
Recap:
Australia began on a back foot, losing to India due to subpar batting. Their troubles continued against South Africa, but a win over Sri Lanka showed promise.
Pakistan, meanwhile, had a close shave against the Netherlands but emerged victors. They shone against Sri Lanka, but their loss to India hurt.
Historically, Australia has had the upper hand, winning 69 of 107 ODIs against Pakistan. However, Pakistan’s victory over Australia in 2022 could boost their morale.
Key Players:
Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) – A late addition, he’s been Australia’s top run-scorer this World Cup.
Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) – The leading run-getter for his side, he’s shown grit and determination.
Projected Lineups:
Australia: Travis Head/Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan/Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.
Match Prediction:
Considering past records and current form, Australia might have a slight advantage, especially with their strong batsmen suited for Bengaluru’s pitch. But with players like Rizwan for Pakistan, an upset is possible. However, weighing recent games, Australia seems to have the upper hand. We lean towards an Australian victory.
