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Patna : Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs in the 17th match of ICC World Cup at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, with fast bowler Pat Cummins taking 3/33 in 10 overs and fellow fast bowler Mitchell Starc taking 2/43 in 9 overs. Fast bowler Kane Richardson took 2/62 in 8-4 overs while Nathon Coulter Nile took 1/53 in 9 overs. Captain Aaron Finch also took a wicket. Replying to Australia’s 307 all out in 49 overs, Pakistan were all out for 266 in 45.4 overs. Pakistan had won the toss but opted to bowl.
Pakistan were 160/6 after 30 overs but first Hasan Ali and then Wahab Riaz took the Australian bowlers by the scruff of the neck launching a counter attack. Hasan Ali added 40 runs with captain Sarfaraz Ahmed before getting out for 32 in 15 balls hitting 3 fours and 3 sixes. Wahab Riaz added 64 runs with Sarfaraz before getting out for 45 in 39 balls hitting 2 fours and 3 sixes. Riaz fell to Starc making its 264/8. Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was run out for 40 in 48 balls with just 1 four. Opener Imam-ul-Haq scored 53 runs while Mohd Hafeez made 46.
Earlier batting first, Australia scored 307 with openers David Warner and Aaron Finch ( captain) scoring 107 and 82 runs respectively. Warner was declared Player of the match.