World Cup 2023: Catches obviously change a game, says Abdullah Shafique after Pakistan's loss to Australia

Pakistan suffered their second straight defeat at the 2023 World Cup after losing by 62 runs against Australia at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. As Pakistan suffered their second straight defeat, Australia have now pulled off back-to-back wins to recover from consecutive defeats at the start of the campaign. World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table Pakistan were guilty of being sloppy in the field, dropping David Warner on 10 runs as he went on to smash 163 runs. The left-hander combined with Mitchell Marsh (121) to put together 259 runs for the opening wicket. It led the foundation for a massive 367-run total. In response, Pakistan started brightly as well with Abdullah Shafique (64) and Imam-ul-Haq (70) stitching a 134-run partnership but that is as far as the fight came from Pakistan.

After conceding six wickets for 36 runs, Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 305 runs and lost by 62 runs. Shafique said in the post-match press conference: “Catches obviously change a game, you get wickets and you get momentum. All fielders are trying to do their best, but sometimes you don’t get that value.” “Australia played very well. Our batting was also good, but in the middle overs we couldn’t finish well.” Analysis | Warner, Marsh make mincemeat of sloppy Pakistan On Pakistan ‘restricting’ Australia in the end: “As a bowling unit in the end, we bowled very well. Hopefully we will learn from this and perform better in the next matches.” David Warner after bagging Player of the Match honour: “I actually didn’t even see him drop it. I was behind the ‘bison’ (Marsh’s nickname). I was actually not happy I didn’t get a single as well. It’s how it is when you’re an opening batsman. If you’re going to go after it, you’re probably going to give some chances.” On Marsh: “He said to me today that he hasn’t really scored any runs on his birthday so he’s happy about that and I think tonight’s Indian tradition, cake in the face.” “You’d always go into bat for him and I was just so ecstatic for him. You know, he’s a great man to have around the change room. He’s the life of the party, brings out the best in everyone and he’s always a character. “That’s what you need in teams and in these backs up against the wall games, you need that. It was awesome.” Quick Recap | Top five moments from Australia vs Pakistan On the win: “I honestly thought 350 was probably par, given the fact that we know the history of this ground and a little bit of dew can come and get a little bit easier to bat on.” Pakistan skipper Babar Azam: “First 34 overs in the bowl and field cost us. We dropped Warner and such batters ensure they cash in.” “Honestly, we have to get up to the mark in the first 10 overs with ball and partnerships in the middle with bat.” “Credit to quicks and spinners for coming back in the last 15 overs, who hit their lengths and the stumps.” Australia skipper Pat Cummins: “That was great. Pretty tough playing here but good to get a win. Proper from the openers, it set the tone and we want to take the game on like that. “The key in ODIs is to carry on. You get one breakthrough and it looks tough for the next guy. Batting for long, like our openers did, was great.” On Adam Zampa who took four wickets: “Zampa has been awesome. Showed his class, he’s a wicket-taker. Babar and Iftikhar were big wickets.” “We’re coming off two wins and have a three or four-day break before the next game. Can take a couple of days off, then get into work. We’ve set the benchmark in the last two games and gotta keep that going.”