Australian opener David Warner continued to be a thorn in Pakistan's side during the ODIs, as he delivered his first century of the 2023 World Cup, wreaking havoc on the Pakistan bowling lineup in Bengaluru on Friday, October 20. In what marked his 21st ODI century, Warner took full advantage of a second chance he received early in his innings after Pakistan's Babar Azam won the toss and chose to field on a flat batting pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Warner reached his century in just 85 balls, effortlessly handling the Pakistan bowling threat. Remarkably, he reached this milestone one ball before his opening partner, Mitchell Marsh, also achieved his century, leading to an outstanding partnership exceeding 200 runs.
This century marked Warner's fifth in World Cup matches and his fourth consecutive century in ODIs against Pakistan, a remarkable streak that commenced back in 2017.
David Warner joined an elite club, becoming only the second batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score four consecutive centuries against a single opposition in the 50-over format. Virat Kohli had previously achieved this feat against the West Indies during the 2017-18 season.
Warner's remarkable run against Pakistan includes the following outstanding performances:
- 130 runs in Sydney in 2017.
- A colossal 179 runs in Adelaide in 2017.
- An impressive 107 runs in Taunton in 2019.
- An unbeaten 100* in Bengaluru in 2023.
As the 33rd over concluded, Warner stood unbeaten at 123 runs, while Mitchell Marsh remained not out at 109. Together, they demonstrated exceptional batting prowess, amassing an impressive total of 14 sixes and 21 boundaries during their partnership in the run-fest at Bengaluru.
Warner's innings got a lifeline when he was dropped on just 10 runs. Usama Mir, who had replaced vice-captain Shadab Khan in the XI, missed a straightforward catch after Shaheen Shah Afridi induced an edge.
David Warner capitalized on this opportunity, displaying a ruthless approach as he dispatched deliveries with authority into the stands.
Notably, Marsh marked his birthday with a century, becoming the first Australian batter to achieve this milestone in ODI cricket.
Furthermore, Marsh and Warner achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first pair of Australian openers to each score a century in the same innings of a World Cup match.
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