AUS vs NED: Shane Watson Reveals His Turning Point In The Game As Australia Survive Huge Scare Against Pakistan

Former allrounder Shane Watson has revealed the moment he considers the turning point during the match between Australia and Pakistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday (October 20).

Asked to bat first, Australia scored a mammoth total of 367 for 9 in the allotted 50 overs. The architects of the big score were openers, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh. Both the openers scored centuries and shared a record 259-run stand for the first wicket. It was Australia’s highest-ever partnership for the first wicket at the 50-over World Cup and an Australian ODI record for any wicket in India.

Warner scored 163 runs off just 123 balls with the help of 14 fours and 9 sixes. On the other hand, Marsh scored 121 off 108 balls with the help of 10 fours and 9 sixes. At one stage, Australia were looking set to score more than 400 but a five-wicket haul from Shaheen Afridi restricted them to 367.

Shane Watson’s turning point of the game:

The 367-run total still looked very safe for Australia before Pakistan began their chase in a solid manner. Their openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq hit half-centuries and shared a century-plus stand and the target looked within Pakistan’s reach.

Marcus Stoinis dismissed both the openers in quick succession to give Australia the much-needed breakthroughs. After losing their openers, Pakistan kept losing wickets at crucial junctures and were eventually all out for 305 runs. For Australia, leg-spinner Adam Zampa picked up 4 wickets while Pat Cummins and Marcus Stoinis picked up two wickets apiece.

And Shane Watson has said that Stoinis’ spell to dismiss the set Pakistan openers was the turning point in the game. Speaking to Star Sports, the World Cup winner said: “The turning point for me in today’s game, Australia vs Pakistan, was Marcus Stoinis’ two crucial wickets to get Australia back into the game. Abdullah Shafique and also Imam-ul-Haq started off incredibly well, taking Mitchell Starc down and also Josh Hazlewood in the powerplay. 

“To get those breakthroughs was the absolute turning point. It gave Australia the chance to defend that because Pakistan were well on track,” he added.

Peaking at the right time! ??@ShaneRWatson33 highlights @MStoinis' double breakthrough as the turning point in the #AUSvPAK contest which got the Aussies back in the game! ??

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— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 21, 2023