Watch: Pat Cummins took a spectacular catch to dismiss Babar Azam during a 2023 World Cup match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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Asked to bat, Australia were assisted by early wayward bowling and ordinary catching from Pakistan. Openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh broke many a record en route to their opening stand of 259 in 33.5 overs before an end of innings collapse restricted Australia to 367-9.
Warner made 163 in 124 balls and Marsh 121 in 108. They hit nine sixes each. For Australia, Shaheen Shah Afridi returned 5-54.
Abdullah Shafique (64 in 61 balls) and Imam-ul-Haq (70 in 71) then added 134 in 127 balls before falling in quick succession. In the 27th over, Adam Zampa bowled a short-pitched delivery at Babar Azam.
Babar pulled the ball hard, to the right of Pat Cummins at mid-wicket. As the ball dipped, Cummins flung himself to his right to take a spectacular two-handed catch. “Terrific catching, captain catches captain,” exclaimed Ian Bishop on air as Babar walked back for a 14-ball 18.
Saud Shakeel (30 in 31 balls) then helped Mohammad Rizwan put on 57 for the fourth wicket before falling to Cummins. At the time of writing, Pakistan were 238-4 in 36 overs. At the crease were Rizwan (36) and Iftikhar Ahmed (2). They needed another 130 in 84 balls.
Watch Pat Cummins catch Babar Azam:
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