David Warner dances for the crowd, pulls his pants down and has a mind-bendingly bad stint as a bowler in Australia’s bizarre World Cup warm-up win over Pakistan
- Warner delights fans with dance moves
- Opener bowls for the first time in 11 years
- Warner finished on 0/41 from 12 balls
David Warner has danced for the crowd, pulled down his trousers and even had his first bowling cameo in 11 years during the Aussies’ 14th win over Pakistan on Wednesday morning.
After posting 7-351, Australia mixed new ball skills with popgun pies at the bowling crease before bowling out Pakistan for 337 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
Warner, who was reunited with his beloved Hyderabad fans, entertained the crowd by dancing to a song from the hit film Pushpa as it was played at the stadium.
Fans raved about his unexpected dance moves, which quickly went viral on social media. The Aussie star was also photographed with his pants down during the match.
Babar Azam, the world’s No. 1 one-day batsman, hit a stylish 90 after Pakistan’s top three – Fakhar Zaman (22), Imam-ul-Haq (16) and Abdullah Shafique (12) – failed to fire.
David Warner shocked fans by bowling for Australia for the first time in eleven years
The departure of Shadab Khan (9) dropped the score to 4-83 before Babar and Iftikhar Ahmed (83) saved Pakistan’s cause with a fifth-wicket stand of 144 runs, benefiting hugely from some park-standard offerings from the Australian part-timers. .
Marnus Labuschagne (3-78 from 8.4 overs) struck three times but struggled to find his length, Steve Smith (0-40 from four) was no threat with his experimental offspinners.
The crowd was delighted to see Warner bowl for the first time in eleven years, but he was very expensive, giving away 41 runs from his two overs.
Iftikhar’s night ended with him taking Labuschagne to Cameron Green in deep before Babar pulled back 10 short of a ton.
With 87 required from the last 13 overs, the Australian frontline bowlers returned to test themselves in the match scenario and succeeded.
Mohammad Nawaz (50) kept Pakistan in the hunt before Labuschagne returned to attack in the 48th over to end the match.
Earlier, Glenn Maxwell (77) shot back to form with his most substantial innings in several months, while Cameron Green (50 no) and Josh Inglis (48) staked their claim for a place in the World Cup’s middle order.
The fireworks from that trio, who batted 6-7-8, helped Australia smash 103 off the last 10 overs.
Warner clowned around with his beloved Hyderabad fans during the match
Australia secured a narrow victory in the final warm-up match for the ODI World Cup
Maxwell, who had missed more than six months of international cricket due to a flare-up with his previously broken leg and the birth of his son ahead of the recent series in India, started cautiously before finding his feet, hitting six sixes.
David Warner (48) and Mitchell Marsh (31) scored 83 for the first wicket and look Australia’s first choice for the World Cup. The alternative, Travis Head, is in the 15-man squad but is not expected to be available until the end of the tournament due to a broken hand.
‘We look in a better context. Mitchell Marsh bowled well, as did Maxwell and Mitchell Starc,” said Australian skipper Pat Cummins.
‘Pretty much everyone contributed halfway through, Green and Inglis were brilliant at the end.’
The World Cup starts on Thursday when 2019 finalists England and New Zealand meet in Ahmedabad.
Australia’s bid for a record-extending sixth World Cup victory begins against favorites India in Chennai on Sunday. The hosts’ final warm-up against Netherlands in Thiruvananthapuram failed without a ball being bowled due to rain.