David Warner scores century as Australia hold their nerve to snuff out dogged Pakistan fightback

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Australia’s bull-dog is back, snarling and biting at ankles, and leaving Pakistan with only one leg to stand on in this World Cup. David Warner scored his first century in an international match since his ban, 107 off 111 balls, to maintain Australia’s progress towards the semi-finals and Pakistan’s towards the exit.

"I’m pumped to be back, the boys are on fire here, we’ve got a great group  harmony, a lot of smiles on faces, and you can see that out on the field," said Warner.

Warner’s leap on reaching his hundred was higher than usual, even though he had edged between keeper and slip, and his roar was louder too - not so much a redemption song as a scream. The 32 year-old bull-dog is a bit more guarded than he was, but no less dangerous for that, and he is the second highest run-scorer in this World Cup - with the Ashes to follow.

In his two previous World Cup innings Warner had made his slowest-ever 50s in ODIs, as if something were holding him back. It was natural enough against Afghanistan that after a year out he should play himself back into form and the team, but his circumspection against India had been harder to follow - unless, at the back of his mind, was the memory of having hit a net bowler at the Oval on the head in practice before the game, with all the echoes of the death of his mate Phil Hughes.

Given the medical update that the net-bowling patient was up and walking, Warner was up and running again. His captain Aaron Finch scored almost twice as quickly in terms of runs, until it was 80 to 44, but their strike-rates were similar, and the bull-dog sank his teeth into Pakistan once Finch had gone.

Australia’s innings however did not quite pan out as planned by their coach Justin Langer, returning to Taunton where he had been Somerset’s captain. Pakistan were neither hot nor cold, but cold then hot: after letting Finch and Warner score 146 off 22 overs, the highest partnership to date of this World Cup, Pakistan took ten Australian wickets for 161 and dismissed them with an over to spare.

The only time when Warner lapsed was after reaching his hundred - his 15th in ODIs - when he “went” too soon. First he was dropped off a steer to third man on 104, by Asif Ali, then he was over-ambitious against Mohammad Amir, the only Pakistan pace bowler who bowled the right length to exploit conditions on a damp morning, taking five for 30.

"When I got out we had 70 balls to go, and as the 'in' batter you want to bat 50 overs,” Warner admitted. “We should have been around 340-50. Credit to Pakistan, their second spells were fantastic and made it hard for us to hit down the ground.”

Asif Ali can hardly be criticised for dropping two catches - the first at slip offered by Finch - so soon after the death of his daughter. Sarfaraz Ahmed dropped Finch again when he had scored 44, a top-edged cut that most international keepers would have caught most times out of ten. Expensive? Finch smote the next three offbreaks by Mohammad Hafeez for 14.

Pakistan’s batting was also cold and hot, then cold and hot. Their lost their first two wickets to short balls, and seven in all, as if their lesson at the hands of the West Indian fast bowlers had not been absorbed. Yet they still reached 136 for two, an excellent platform on a ground with short straight boundaries, if only there had been some disciplined shot-selection before the late-order clubbing by Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz.

That partnership gave Pakistan a chance, but it was snuffed out when Wahab edged Mitchell Starc behind, Aaron Finch successfully reviewing with just a second left on the DRS timer.

Ultimately, the match was resolved in a few minutes of the sublime and ridiculous. The sublime was Pat Cummins who has bowled more dot-balls than anyone in this tournament. He bounced out Imam ul-Haq then jagged one back to take the inside edge of Shoaib Malik, while Hafeez slammed a slow full toss 90 yards to be caught at deep square-leg. A good game, except for Pakistan’s batting collapse, so that it was not quite the nail-biter this tournament needed after the two consecutive wash-outs.

The semi-finalists are currently shaping up to be the predicted four of Australia, England, India and New Zealand. The question is whether another contender can squeeze out one of them. Pakistan could have done it, but have roused themselves only for England and will do so again, no doubt, for their game against India - which leaves West Indies to provide the upset, starting perhaps against England at Southampton on Friday.

Australia looked more formidable in deploying four pace bowlers and Glenn Maxwell, instead of Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa. They have reverted to the formula which won the 2015 World Cup, and which is well-suited to the damp conditions while they last.

6:04PM

Australia win by 41 runs

Pakistan had their chances but couldn't sustain three crucial partnerships into three-figures and change the game. Australia held their nerve with a relatively light bowling attack by virtue of Cummins' brilliance and Starc's execution of the tail.

6:00PM

Wicket!!

Sarfaraz run out Brilliant throw from Maxwell at short cover as the captain desperately tried to rectify his mistake at letting Shaheen run a single off the last ball of the last over. Very poor captaincy from Sarfaraz. If you're not going to take responsibility as the No5 batsman with a teenage No11 at the crease and a chance, however slim, still to win, someone should be having a very stern word indeed.  FOW 266 all out

5:58PM

OVER 45: PAK 266/9 (Sarfaraz 40* Shaheen 1*)

Starc begins with a loopy bouncer to Amir that is called wide. The next from Starc is a jaffa  at 92 mph, searing away from the left-hander's backward defensive. He's trying to guts it out but his left leg abandons ship and hedges ever further to square leg. Shaheen chisels out the full ball on to his pads. One to survive in the over. It's on his pads and he glances it easily for a single. Sarfaraz should have sent him back to keep the strike. A red inker is no good to anyone  here.  42 required off 30.

5:55PM

Wicket!!

Amir b Starc 0 Too worried about the bouncer, he hangs on the back foot and inside-edges the surprise yorker on to middle stump.  FOW 265/9

5:50PM

Wicket!!

Wahab c Carey b Starc 45He feathered it through. Given the tumult, the umpire probably couldn't hear it. But Carey and Starc persuaded Finch to review which he did successfully with a second on the DRS clock to go.  FOW 264/8

5:50PM

Australia review

Wahab c Carey b StarcAny contact with the bat?

5:49PM

OVER 44: PAK 263/7 (Sarfaraz 39* Wahab 45*)

Kane Richardson returns to bowl his eighth over. Australia's fifth bowlers, Finch and Maxwell, have only got through nine. There's one more to come from one of them. Pakistan will be well in the game as long as they can keep the scoreboard turning over until that gimme comes.  Richardson begins with two slow full tosses. Wahab slaps the first down to point and scrambles a second, diving headlong to make his ground. He edges the next down to third man and the two of them work three further singles. 45 required off 36.

5:44PM

OVER 43: PAK 257/7 (Sarfaraz 37* Wahab 41*)

Wahab's bat requires some surgery after chiselling out that yorker. The toe is split, it seems. New bat or tape? Minor repair work only required but it causes a lengthy delay before he gets going again with a leg glance for a single. Sarfraz dabs down to third man for another. Well-paced innings this from the captain, only one boundary but determined to be there at the death. Starc comes round the wicket. Wahab gives it the maker's name, weaves out of the way of a venomous 90mph bouncer that was aimed at his Adam's apple and flicks a single off his pads. They need 51 off 42.

5:37PM

OVER 42: PAK 254/7 (Sarfaraz 36* Wahab 39*)                       

N C-N switches ends and Wahab picks his slower ball and carts it over midwicket for six with a lovely swivel of the hips and a swing of the axe.  After working the ball around for three singles, Wahab digs out a yorker down to third man and strolls another. They need 54 from 48 balls and Starc is coming on. He has three overs left.

5:33PM

OVER 41: PAK 244/7 (Sarfaraz 34* Wahab 31*)

Maxwell begins with a round-arm dart that Wahab tries to slog and inside edges it, sending it whistling past off-stump and the keeper's left hand for four. Wahab rifles the next ball over long on for six, clearing his front leg and collars the next. It arcs towards the midwicket boundary but Coulter-Nile acrobatically hauls it back from over the rope with his feet in play and they can run only one. Three more singles complete a productive over.

5:29PM

OVER 40: PAK 230/7 (Sarfaraz 32* Wahab 19*)                                 

Cummins is going to bowl out. Pakistan need to hang in here. If they had two more wickets in hand they would be well ahead of the game.  Sarfaraz edges a defensive past the keeper for a single. Cummins racks up three dot balls, one down the legside that kissed the glove but fell short of Carey.  A push to mid-on for a single is the only other dent in Cummins' figures and he takes his cap with a superb three for 35 having bagged Fakhar, Imam and Shoaib. Final PP time. And Maxwell will bowl the first of the last 10.

5:25PM

OVER 39: PAK 228/7 (Sarfaraz 31* Wahab 18*)                                 

Nathan Coulter "The Blue" Nile relieves Starc and Sarfaraz treats the cranking down of pace with glee, milking a couple of singles, allowing Wahab to tuck in, flipping two off his pads and carting a pull over deep backward square for a towering six to end a terrific over for Pakistan.

5:21PM

OVER 38: PAK 217/7 (Sarfaraz 29* Wahab 9*)                                 

Three runs off Cummins' ninth over that leaves him with 9-0-31-3. What a superb bowler he is. Wahabe ends the over with a big swish that is so extravagant he almost knocks himself off his feet.  Pakistan need 91 runs from 72 balls.

5:18PM

OVER 37: PAK 214/7 (Sarfaraz 27* Wahab 8*)                               

Wahab throws his hands at a drive outside off-stump and flashes it off the edge past a diving Smith at slip for four. Smith got to within 20cm of it. Wahab almost knocks the cover of the next ball, a ferociously drilled cover drive that Khawaja stops at the cost of a smarting palm and a single.

5:13PM

OVER 36: PAK 207/7 (Sarfaraz 25* Wahab 3*)                               

Finch turns the screw by bringing Cummins back on, too. Wahab is taking the precaution of retreating towards square leg but survives the first three then tucks a single off his hip. Sarfaraz cuts a single into the ground that skips over point and they run a single. Wahab can't beat point to nick the strike. Probably for the best. If there is hope, it lies with the prolesskip.

5:09PM

OVER 35: PAK 205/7 (Sarfaraz 24* Wahab 2*)                             

Wahab Riaz gets off the mark from his first ball check-driving a single through the off-side. Sarfaraz, who has his extra 'a' today, glances two through midwicket and punches a single. Starc, who faced a couple of bouncers himself, serves one back to Wahab who wears it on the glove then the  arm-guard and runs a single.

5:05PM

OVER 34: PAK 200/7 (Sarfaraz 20* Wahab 0*)                             

Good afternoon. It's also a greeting that Hasan Ali extends to Kane Richardson when creaming a cover drive for four then climbs into a short ball that he bludgeons over cover point for four. IT takes him to 32 off 15 balls but his innings ends on the 15th delivery when he goes once too often. Discretion, young man. You already had what you needed from the over. Pakistan have lost five for 64 and now Starc is coming back on for the kill.

5:02PM

Wicket!!                   

Hasan Ali c Khawaja b Richardson 32 Having been skelped for successive fours, Richardson goes for the cross-seam bouncer that Hasan hooks at and top-edges down long leg's throat. FOW 200/7

4:56PM

OVER 33: PAK 191/6 (Sarfaraz 20* Hasan 24*)                           

Sarfaraz trying to go after Maxwell but doesn't quite work, dot ball. Pulled to long leg for one.

Another six for Hasan! Rocking back but enough under it to get it over long on! Maxwell fuming. Tries it again but that will just get a single down the ground. Safe single from Sarfaraz to end the over and that's drinks.

Rob Bagchi will guide you through the rest of the day's play. Cheers!

4:52PM

OVER 32: PAK 182/6 (Sarfaraz 18* Hasan 17*)                           

Single and a wide takes Pakistan to 170. Short, Hasan gives it a swing to the leg side and it's six! Not seen one of those for a while. Nearly took out the cameraman!

And again! Down the ground, over the rope! Hasan coming to the party.

4:48PM

OVER 31: PAK 168/6 (Sarfaraz 17* Hasan 5*)                         

Wide from Maxwell to start. Hasan off the mark with a single. More follow, an edge whistling past Carey all the way to the rope.

4:44PM

WICKET! Asif Ali 5 c Carey b Richardson

Rotating the strike now, a single square, a cut towards third man. Couple added by Sarfaraz, then he nudges a bouncer square for a single.

Last ball takes off from Richardson, thick outside edge and Carey was waiting. Pakistan six down. FOW 160/6

4:40PM

OVER 29: PAK 155/5 (Sarfaraz 11* Asif Ali 4*)                         

Finch back, couple of wides to start. Required rate for Pakistan have leapt above seven. Four singles from the two batsmen.

4:37PM

OVER 28: PAK 149/5 (Sarfaraz 9* Asif Ali 2*)                       

Australians full of confidence now and why not. Ali with a straight drive down to mid on gets two.

4:35PM

WICKET! Shoaib 0 c Carey b Cummins

Nearly a run out for Shoaib's first ball! Warner gets Shoaib out with a direct hit, but missed.

But he doesn't hang around long! Inside edge just about grabbed by Carey. Shoaib gone after two balls and Pakistan are reeling here. FOW 147/5

4:31PM

WICKET! Hafeez 56 c Starc b Finch

Finch now on for a bowl. First ball and he's swept for four by Sarfaraz for a boundary.

Couple of singles and then Finch sends down a full toss, up in the air, caught on the boundary! What a play by the captain! Hafeez goes! FOW 146/4

4:27PM

OVER 26: PAK 139/3 (Sarfaraz 2* Hafeez 45*)                       

In comes the captain and off the mark straight away. Chipped away by Hafeez down to third man for another single. Edge in the air but safe! Wide of gully. Single.

4:23PM

WICKET! Imam 53 c Carey b Cummins

Gone! Imam swiveling for the pull gloves it into Finch's mits. What a blow after reaching 50. FOW 136/3

4:21PM

OVER 25: PAK 136/2 (Imam 53* Hafeez 44*)                     

Shouts of catch off Hafeez but no slip there. Cummins does well at third man to stop it, losing his pants in the process (base layer fortunately on).

Imam clubs a four to mid off to bring up his 50! It's come off 73 balls. Then tries a pull shot square and gets a single.

4:17PM

OVER 24: PAK 128/2 (Imam 48* Hafeez 41*)                     

Cummins back in for the first time in a while. Maybe he can break this partnership up but for now Australia keep leaking singles, two in this over.

4:13PM

OVER 23: PAK 126/2 (Imam 47* Hafeez 40*)                   

Hard running for a single by Imam, Lyon waiting at mid off for the strike but never on in the end.

Hafeez pulls away a single, Imam too, before Hafeez adds two more past the bowler. Better.

4:09PM

OVER 22: PAK 121/2 (Imam 45* Hafeez 37*)                   

Very, very nice cut shot by Imam, all the way to the rope at third man. Follows it up with a single. Big old bouncer off the last by Starc, but not a wide.

4:04PM

OVER 21: PAK 115/2 (Imam 40* Hafeez 36*)                 

Coulter-Nile back on. Maxwell sniffing a run out but Pakistan are well safe. Wide signaled by the umpires to get Pakistan off Nelson.

Another wide after three dots. In comes Coulter-Nile for his eighth delivery of the over... beats backward point for a single.

3:59PM

OVER 20: PAK 110/2 (Imam 39* Hafeez 34*)                 

Edge from Imam but safe, gets a single. One for Hafeez too. Wide from Starc, Pakistan now looking at a 5.54 run rate.

3:54PM

OVER 19: PAK 107/2 (Imam 38* Hafeez 33*)               

Hafeez pops off the field during that break but he's since returned, so on we go. Four singles, bringing up 100 for Pakistan.

Cut by Imam through point and Coulter-Nile can't prevent the boundary. Richardson follows that up with a wide, Imam adding a single to keep the strike.

3:46PM

OVER 18: PAK 97/2 (Imam 31* Hafeez 31*)               

Hafeez goes after Maxwell, one bounce and four over at deep square leg. Now skipping down the ground, bigggg six! He's caught up with Imam. Adds a single to give his partner a go, Imam returns the favour, and with the last ball Australia cut off a single. Drinks break.

3:43PM

OVER 17: PAK 83/2 (Imam 30* Hafeez 18*)             

Nicely played by Hafeez through the covers for four. Slightly over pitched. Three singles take Pakistan to seven off the over.

3:40PM

OVER 16: PAK 76/2 (Imam 29* Hafeez 12*)             

Three dots and then Imam pushes a single away to get Hafeez back on strike against Maxwell. Just the final single off the last ball. All a little quiet.

3:36PM

OVER 15: PAK 74/2 (Imam 28* Hafeez 11*)           

Hafeez growing more comfortable, pulls one ball away for two. Three singles but a sharp delivery to close out the over by Coulter-Nile.

3:33PM

OVER 14: PAK 69/2 (Imam 26* Hafeez 8*)           

More Maxwell spin, more singles. Run rate currently 4.74, which is a fair way below what Pakistan need.

Ends on a high with Hafeez crashing the ball through the covers.

3:30PM

OVER 13: PAK 62/2 (Imam 24* Hafeez 3*)         

Just the two singles. Pakistan starting again with Hafeez now out there.

3:27PM

OVER 12: PAK 60/2 (Imam 23* Hafeez 2*)         

Bit of spin now for Australia with Maxwell on. Leads to four singles.

3:24PM

OVER 11: PAK 56/2 (Imam 21* Hafeez 0*)       

Out comes Hafeez, survives his first ball. That's a huge wicket for Australia with Babar looking so sharp.

3:21PM

WICKET! Babar 30 c Richardson b Coulter-Nile

Honestly can't tell if Babar is finding this hard or not. Looks so easy out there for him. Superb drive into the on side for four.

But now he's gone! Played so, so well. Top edge, towards fine leg and that's out. What a shame. FOW 56/2

3:18PM

OVER 10: PAK 51/1 (Imam 20* Babar 26*)       

Single for Imam and then Babar punishes the bad ball, whipped away for a boundary. There's the 50 for Pakistan, who have settled in well after the early wicket.

3:14PM

OVER 9: PAK 46/1 (Imam 19* Babar 22*)     

Coulter-Nile comes in. Single for Babar but then four leg byes, off Imam's hip and whizzing past Carey. Single ends the over by Imam to keep him on strike.

3:10PM

OVER 8: PAK 40/1 (Imam 18* Babar 21*)     

Lovely glance by Babar to wear fine leg should be, getting four runs. Pulls another ball hard but the man at deep square leg was waiting. Slower ball to finish from Richardson earns a dot.

3:06PM

OVER 7: PAK 34/1 (Imam 17* Babar 16*)   

Babar's back in the corner. Full, quick, opens the bat and sends it back the way of extra cover. Sumptuous.

Otherwise five dots.

3:02PM

OVER 6: PAK 30/1 (Imam 17* Babar 12*)   

Top edge and four for Imam! Got away with that one. Fuller ball next but that's flicked to midwicket for a boundary!

Last ball flicked by Imam off his pads behind for another boundary to fine leg - 12 from the over. Pakistan settling in.

2:58PM

OVER 5: PAK 18/1 (Imam 5* Babar 12*) 

Babar so poised through the off side. Crashes another four away through the covers. And another! Babar should really invest in that corner of the ground at deep extra cover. Build a house there. Nice little garden. He's been there so often already in this innings.

2:53PM

OVER 4: PAK 10/1 (Imam 5* Babar 4*) 

That's great from Imam. Not a bad ball by Starc but takes him on, strong pull shot for a boundary.  Starc thunders in a 91mph ball afterwards.

2:49PM

OVER 3: PAK 6/1 (Imam 1* Babar 4*)

In comes the key man Babar. Three dots from Cummins before Babar takes him on with a cut past point for a boundary.

2:44PM

WICKET! Fakhar 0 c Richardson b Cummins

Perfect start for the Aussies! Fakhar caught out in the deep by Richardson at third man. FOW 2/1

2:43PM

OVER 2: PAK 2/0 (Imam 1* Fakhar 0*)

Starc doing Starc things. Fast, movement, Imam clinging on. Maiden. Last one a cool 91mph.

2:39PM

OVER 1: PAK 2/0 (Imam 1* Fakhar 0*)

Cummins to open and he starts with... a no ball.

Free hit then for Imam. Bouncer, too quick. Beats him with the next ball too. Imam gets off the mark with a flick off the pads to long leg.

2:32PM

Right then, time for The Chase

Not that one.

So important for Pakistan to survive this period with the new ball against Starc and Cummins.

2:25PM

Fell apart a bit, didn't it?

2:07PM

Best since Wasim Akram

2:06PM

WICKET! Starc 3 c Shoaib Malik b Amir - AUSTRALIA ALL OUT FOR 307

The two bowlers left then and they're in a hurry. Single for Richardson, then two for Starc but it could have easily been a boundary, great fielding.

Amir has been so good today and appropriately gets the final wicket and a five-fer, Starc caught out at long on! Great recovery from Pakistan - they can certainly chase down 308.

Back in a bit.

2:02PM

WICKET! Carey 20 lbw Amir

Slower ball, Carey pulls it but it drops short of third man.

Single from Starc and then Pakistan think they have Carey lbw! He'll review. Doesn't look like any bat involved, great yorker. Gone! FOW 304/9

1:58PM

OVER 48: AUS 302/8 (Starc 0* Carey 19*)   

Three dots to finish off from Hasan Ali. Two overs left for Australia to bump this up a bit.

1:56PM

WICKET! Cummins 2 c Sarfaraz b Hasan

Singles but Australia need a little more.

Cummins won't be the man to provide it! Bowled in short, edged by Cummins  with a hint of glove for an easy catch by Sarfaraz. FOW 302/8

1:53PM

OVER 47: AUS 300/7 (Cummins 1* Carey 18*) 

Wahab flying in with the bouncers now for Cummins. Single for the new man brings up 300.

1:50PM

WICKET! Coulter-Nile 2 c Sarfaraz b Wahab

Great catch by Sarfaraz! Glanced off the bat, great seam movement by Wahab and the captain takes the inside edge well. FOW 299/7

Quick snippet of England news:

1:48PM

OVER 46: AUS 298/6 (Coulter-Nile 2* Carey 17*) 

Carey adds a boundary, pulled over midwicket into the gap. Very nice.

Good fielding down at fine leg by Wahab prevents another boundary. Edged for a single by Coulter-Nile down to third man. Single off the final ball too.

1:44PM

OVER 45: AUS 291/6 (Coulter-Nile 1* Carey 11*)

Coulter-Nile in - Australia have bottled this slightly, 350 slipping away.

1:42PM

WICKET! Marsh 23 c Shoaib Malik b Amir

Two singles to open the over, run rate at 6.5. Marsh going after it doesn't get enough on the ball and it's up in the air! Caught down at long off by Shoaib, Australia faltering a bit at the end. FOW 288/6

1:39PM

OVER 44: AUS 286/5 (Marsh 22* Carey 8*)

Many thanks, Giles.

Carey was lively on Sunday, intrigued to see how he goes here with six overs left. No one backing up means two runs.

Couple of singles before Carey finds the gap between cover and mid off.

1:35PM

OVER 43: AUS 278/5 (Marsh 21* Carey 1*)

What a start to the over. The introduction of Amir working wonders. With Khawaja gone, first ball of the over, Carey is left to face five more balls from a pumped-up Amir and the first ball he faces is on the money, a yorker that he does well to block.

1:32PM

WICKET! Khawaja ct Wahab b Amir for 18

Amir is brought into the attack and, first ball, entices an uppish drive that Khawaja hits straight to Wahab at mid-off. FOW 277/5

1:30PM

OVER 42: AUS 277/4 (Marsh 21* Khawaja 18*)

Change of bowler as Hassan Ali charges in and, first ball, which is going down leg, he is clipped off Khawaja's hips and the ball races away fine for four. Easy pickings. A very unthreatening over.

1:26PM

OVER 41: AUS 269/4 (Marsh 20* Khawaja 13*)

Wahab pitches the ball into the 'please pull me' zone and Khawaja does just that, spanking him over mid-on. A second four follows next ball, this time Khawaja opening the face and gliding the ball fine of third man. Sublime batting.

1:22PM

OVER 40: AUS 256/4 (Marsh 16* Khawaja 4*)

There's a lot of leftie action going on as Marsh and Khawaja face up to Shaheen and Wahab. The Aussie run rate is hovering around 6.3, and that spikes a little as Marsh drives Shaheen for a beautiful four straight through Shoaib at mid off. Some sloppy fielding.

1:18PM

OVER 39: AUS 247/4 (Marsh 9* Khawaja 2*)

Wahab is challenging the batsmen, hitting a good length more often than not, just outside off stump. Just four singles off the over.

1:15PM

OVER 38: AUS 243/4 (Marsh 7* Khawaja 0*)

At last Pakistan get the wicket they so badly needed. With Warner gone, can they now make inroads into the middle order?

1:14PM

WICKET! Warner ct Imam b Shaheen for 107

Having reached his century, Warner decides to go on the attack, slices the ball high into the air and is caught at deep point. FOW 242/4

1:09PM

OVER 37: AUS 239/3 (Marsh 4* Warner 107*)

A chance goes begging... and what a chance. Wahab to Warner, it's straight down Asif Ali's throat at third man, and he shells it. The Pakistan fans do not look happy.

1:05PM

OVER 36: AUS 235/3 (Marsh 3* Warner 104*)

Shaheen to Warner... he gets a thick edge between the wicket-keeper and first slip and the ball races away for four to bring up Warner's century. Jammy way to bring up your ton, but that doesn't stop him leaping in the air in celebration.

1:01PM

OVER 35: AUS 228/3 (Marsh 3* Warner 97*)

Hafeez bowling and still it's to two left-handers. A solid over, four singles from it.

12:59PM

OVER 34: AUS 224/3 (Marsh 1* Warner 95*)

Superb over from Shaheen. Now they just need to get Warner.

12:56PM

WICKET! Maxwell 20 b Shaheen

Warner wafts at a wide one, gets enough on it with a slight edge, no fielder, four! Then cuts a single to deep backward point.

Gonnnneeee! Terrible shot by Maxwell, completely misses a fuller ball and Shaheen obliterates his off stump. FOW 223/3

Small break for me, here's Giles Mole for some relief comms.

12:49PM

OVER 33: AUS 218/2 (Maxwell 20* Warner 90*)                             

Maxwell warming up, finds the gap at midwicket for four with a big hit. Single gives the strike back to Warner, who replies by finding extra cover for one. Warner into the 90s.

Maxwell again into the gap at deep midwicket! He wants all the runs now. Then a gorgeous six follows down the ground! Big over for Australia.

12:46PM

OVER 32: AUS 202/2 (Maxwell 5* Warner 89*)                             

Shaheen cuts off a possible boundary for Warner at deep extra cover, just two runs. Followed by a single to extra cover.

Maxwell adds two with a cut to deep backward point, then bears the fielder at extra cover with a single. Six off the over.

12:43PM

OVER 31: AUS 196/2 (Maxwell 2* Warner 86*)                           

Single from Warner before Maxwell gets off the mark with a single to mid on. Full toss from Hafeez, Warner gets his feed moving and adds another single.

And another. Not exactly in Maxwell's nature to be cautious but that seems to be the plan currently. Five singles off the over.

12:40PM

OVER 30: AUS 191/2 (Maxwell 0* Warner 83*)                           

Four dots to start the over for Shoaib, diving to his right to block a shot by Warner. Single off the last means Warner keeps the strike.

12:37PM

OVER 29: AUS 190/2 (Maxwell 0* Warner 82*)                         

Single for Warner off the last ball to end the strike. What can we expect then from Maxwell... he's come in up the order.

12:35PM

WICKET! Smith 10 c Asif b Hafeez               

Smith in singles heaven - he loves this doesn't he. Warner on 80 off 77 by the way.

Smith goes for the bigger shot and absolutely skies it! Bat, body shape all a mess. Asif under it at extra cover, Australia two down. FOW 189/2

12:32PM

OVER 28: AUS 187/1 (Smith 9* Warner 80*)                         

Smith scrambles back after thinking twice about the single. Almost struggled to get his feet moving, but he was well in. Well played by Warner, lovely drive through extra cover for four.

Wide again by Shoaib but the man cuts off Warner's next shot, only a single towards deep cover.

No ball and Smith glances it square for a single. Free hit coming... high, high, six! Warner to long on. Ruthless.

Single to end... no, two! Another overthrow. Grim times for Pakistan.

12:29PM

OVER 27: AUS 172/1 (Smith 8* Warner 67*)                       

Amir still causing problems, beating Warner there. Overthrow gives Australia two. Ugh. Three off the over.

12:24PM

OVER 26: AUS 169/1 (Smith 8* Warner 64*)                       

Shoaib comes into the attack. Smith with a single down to long on. Warner rotating the strike with a single to deep cover.

Smith then going for the pull gets it all wrong. Sign of intent though. Singles follow for both batsmen.

12:20PM

OVER 25: AUS 165/1 (Smith 6* Warner 62*)                     

Pakistan's attack still hinging on Amir. Just the two singles off the over. Australia looking at a score of around 360 right now.

Big appeal! Sarfaraz doesn't believe it's hitting... no he does! Asked for the review. Might have been missing off stump... impact outside, so review lost.

Good over though by Amir, just the two runs.

12:15PM

OVER 24: AUS 163/1 (Smith 5* Warner 61*)                     

Too full by Hasan and Warner punches it down the ground for four. Australia over 150. Too full again and Warner finds deep extra cover. Wide by Hasan, then a Warner single.

That's the class of Steve Smith, well-timed shot past the covers for four.

Warner moving up the runs leaderboard.

12:10PM

OVER 23: AUS 149/1 (Smith 1* Warner 52*)                   

Noise levels going up a bit now. Warner with a single to put Smith on strike, who steps across his crease and plays a single to midwicket to get off the mark.

Super ball! Warner somehow avoids the inside edge, nipped back in. And again! That one swinging away. Class bowling by Amir. Single keeps Warner on strike.

12:06PM

WICKET! Finch 82 c Hafeez b Amir

Amir back in, first ball, top edge! Hangs up there for an age before Hafeez brings it in. Finch walking back. FOW 146/1

12:04PM

OVER 22: AUS 146/0 (Finch 82* Warner 50*)                   

Finch on the pull, just about gets enough on it, one run down to long leg. Hasan with an absolute beauty, coming back in, just over the stumps, unplayable.

Follows it up though with a no ball. Very frustrating. The free hit goes for a single, as do the next three balls, before Warner beats point with shot to bring up his 50.

11:59AM

OVER 21: AUS 136/0 (Finch 79* Warner 44*)                 

Single cut through the covers by Warner. Run rate dropping a little closer to the six-an-over mark.

Finch sorts that out, huge six into the crowd over at long on! And a second! Too short and he gets it over cow corner, flying low. Glances a single to short third man, 13 off three balls for Finch.

Warner, last ball, sees out the over with a dot.

11:55AM

OVER 20: AUS 122/0 (Finch 66* Warner 43*)                 

Leg bye from Hasan to start. Finch then adds a couple wide of midwicket. Australia captain caught out a little by the next ball, high up the bat, but runs hard for a single.

One more for Warner too. This is very, very steady.

11:51AM

OVER 19: AUS 117/0 (Finch 63* Warner 42*)               

Finch misses going for the reverse sweep. Hafeez went for 15 in his first over, better start here.

Skip down the ground, single towards square for Finch. Warner beats extra cover for a single too. Another single towards deep square for Finch.

Leg bye to finish the over off Warner.

11:48AM

OVER 18: AUS 113/0 (Finch 61* Warner 41*)               

No ball by Shaheen, gives Warner a free hit which leads to... nothing actually. Cuts the next ball for two to deep point.

Better length from Shaheen, a few ooohs from the crowd as he gets it to slightly nip away. Single ends the over.

11:41AM

OVER 17: AUS 107/0 (Finch 59* Warner 38*)             

Hafeez on for a bit of spin, around the wicket. Finch doesn't want him to settle, down the ground, driven hard for four. Follows it up with clumping a short ball to the boundary at deep cover, well batted. That's Finch's 50 and the 100 for Australia.

After those fours, a big six! Finch right under it, heaves it into the stand over long on. Ends with a single to keep the strike. Run rate now around 6.29.

11:37AM

OVER 16: AUS 91/0 (Finch 44* Warner 38*)             

Nice over this by Shaheen through the first five balls, good fuller length. Bad fielding though leads to a four off the final ball, beating the man at mid on Shoaib.

11:34AM

OVER 15: AUS 87/0 (Finch 40* Warner 38*)           

Finch adds two, and then a big shout for an lbw. Wahab desperately pleading with Sarfaraz for a review... why! They're checking it, looked as though it pitched outside leg.

In fact it's not that bad a review, but height is the issue. Closer review than expected.

Good bouncer by Wahab, catches Warner really high on the arm. That delivery took off.

Half chance of a run out, Finch sent back by Warner but Babar can't make the throw, in fact it's an overthrow and Australia steal a single! Miserable times for Pakistan. Wide ends the over.

11:28AM

OVER 14: AUS 83/0 (Finch 37* Warner 38*)           

Shaheen still a little short to Warner, who adds a single down to wide of third man. These two just playing the length and rotating the strike.

Warner waits, rocks back, pulls it for four towards long leg. Easy. Pakistan need a breakthrough.

11:24AM

OVER 13: AUS 76/0 (Finch 35* Warner 33*)         

Finch in the supporting role here, a single taking him to 26 off 44. Warner opens the face and runs a single down to third man.

Dropped! Edge by Finch towards first slip and put down by Asif! What a killer. Had to get that. Rolls for four. Then another four glanced past the keeper. Finch adds a single to keep the strike - painful over for Pakistan.

11:20AM

OVER 12: AUS 65/0 (Finch 25* Warner 32*)         

Shaheen back in. Is that wise?

Runs for Finch, gets two after nudging past point. Half a shout as Finch picks up a leg bye. Warner then drives well towards the covers but that's cut off well by Imam-ul-Haq, only two.

11:17AM

OVER 11: AUS 60/0 (Finch 23* Warner 30*)       

Powerplay begins. Up in the air by Warner but safe! Dropped short of point. Couple of dots before Warner adds a single through the off side, one for Finch too.

Flicked off the pads by Warner for two towards midwicket.

11:13AM

OVER 10: AUS 56/0 (Finch 22* Warner 27*)       

Drive down the ground by Warner brings up Australia's 50. He's going well, 26 off 19 balls. Four leg byes after Warner brushes one past off his body to the boundary, that's a poor ball. Adds a single.

11:09AM

OVER 9: AUS 49/0 (Finch 22* Warner 24*)     

Wahab Riaz replaces Amir. Couple of singles to start before a possible shout for a run out, but Warner's easily safe. Four dots.

11:04AM

OVER 8: AUS 47/0 (Finch 21* Warner 23*)     

Wide from Hasan, followed up by a single to square by Warner. That's better by Hasan, Finch with a thick inside edge. He responds with a cut for a boundary towards deep backward point.

Single to rotate the strike and Warner obliges with a fine drive through the off side for four. Too short. Australia looking good right now.

11:00AM

OVER 7: AUS 36/0 (Finch 16* Warner 18*)   

Amir opens up with a wide and then that's a nice shot by Warner, clipping a four off his pads square to the boundary. Then adds a single.

Finch with a single down to third man. Warner with an inside edge but safe and that's another run. Amir's worst over so far, conceding eight, but he's looked sharp.

How chilly in Somerset? This chilly.

10:55AM

OVER 6: AUS 28/0 (Finch 15* Warner 12*)   

Sarfaraz unsurprisingly changes the bowler up the other end. Hasan Ali comes in and starts well with four dots, good length. Lovely delivery, swinging away as Warner does well to avoid the edge.

Single to square by Warner ends the run of dots. Last ball driven back down the ground by Finch but stopped by Hasan.

Here's the Finch six.

10:50AM

OVER 5: AUS 27/0 (Finch 15* Warner 11*) 

Amir far more dangerous. Finch with a good leave off the second ball. Amir hitting the length very well. Maiden.

10:47AM

OVER 4: AUS 27/0 (Finch 15* Warner 11*) 

Six! Cracking shot by Finch. Sat up, on the swivel, whacked over deep square leg into the stands. His 100th ODI six. Finch then adds two after a shot past cover.

Shaheen, halfway through his second over, has conceded 17 runs... after another two to backward square leg by Finch.

Edged by Finch but safe, no backward point there and that leads to a single. Warner rounds off a disastrous over for Shaheen with a boundary pulled to deep midwicket. Well-timed two past the covers by Warner, what a disastrous over for Shaheen - 6, 2, 2, 1, 4, 2.

10:42AM

OVER 3: AUS 10/0 (Finch 4* Warner 5*)

Drive from Finch causes a misfield at mid off, that'll lead to two. Nice start though by Amir, good seam movement.

Single down the leg side for Finch, three off the over.

10:38AM

OVER 2: AUS 7/0 (Finch 1* Warner 5*)

So Shaheen comes into the side and will open up the bowling from the other end. Played by Warner, pulled away square on the leg side for four. That was too short. Quick single follows.

Wide called, down Finch's leg side, but Shaheen corrects himself with a nice delivery swinging away. Single clipped to midwicket to finish the over.

10:33AM

OVER 1: AUS 0/0 (Finch 0* Warner 0*)

Play-and-a-miss to start from Finch. More seam than swing. Great noise already from the Pakistan supporters.

That third ball swung, back in towards Finch. Good start from Amir, four dots. Make that five, Finch reaching for a wider one but unable to find it. It's a maiden. Well bowled.

Absolute nightmare batting with these on, surely.

10:29AM

Right, here we go then

Finch and Warner ready out in the middle, Mohammad Amir to open the bowling.

10:27AM

Reminder of the two teams

Australia: 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch (c), 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Shaun Marsh, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Kane Richardson

Pakistan: 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Asif Ali, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Shaheen Afridi, 11 Mohammad Amir

10:24AM

Expect plenty of runs

10:23AM

Outstanding work

10:16AM

More bail woe?

Let's hope not. Zing have come out and said they are 'stumped' - very good - about all the issues in this tournament with those pesky bails not dropping off as expected.

10:14AM

What the great man said

10:07AM

Pakistan win the toss

And Sarfaraz Ahmed would like to have a bowl.

"A bit of grass, looks like a green pitch, a bit of moisture. Unfortunately we couldn't play the last game but we have worked very hard."

One change for them, Shaheen Shah Afridi is playing with Shadab dropping out.

Aaron Finch admits he would have had a bowl as well. No Marcus Stoinis of course, he's out through injury, and Zampa has also been left out. In come Richardson as the extra quick bowler and also Shaun Marsh.

10:01AM

Our exclusive from Tuesday on the threat of doping in cricket

Fine work from Tim Wigmore.

9:57AM

Zampa warming up

Look at those light clouds. Wonderful.

9:55AM

'Dry, cold' - We'll take it

9:54AM

Morning everybody

Dare I say it after a couple of washouts - we might actually see some cricket played today!

Pakistan have had a nine-day break following that surprise victory over England last Monday at Trent Bridge, after their Friday fixture against Sri Lanka in Bristol was rained off.

Three 50s near the top of the order from Babar Azam, top scorer Mohammad Hafeez and Sarfaraz Ahmed proved decisive for Pakistan.

Australia on the other hand were in action as recently as Sunday, when Shikhar Dhawan's delightful century for India leaving Australia with an enormous run chase.

Alex Carey looked very sharp however in his act of defiance at end of the innings, recording the fastest 50 of the Cricket World Cup so far off 25 balls.

Alright, enough waffle, I know what you're here for. This is the latest forecast from the Met Office. Fingers crossed.

9:45AM

Preview

When Sarfaraz Ahmed says past results mean nothing to his Pakistan team, he genuinely means it.

Few would doubt him, either, particularly rival captains at the Cricket World Cup.

Five-time champion Australia swept Pakistan 5-0 in a one-day international series in March. That extended Australia's winning streak to eight in ODIs after coming back from 2-0 down to win a series 3-2 in India.

Australia is again favored to win the group-stage encounter against Pakistan at Somerset's County Ground on Wednesday, but the odds don't matter. Pakistan was bounced out for 105 in its tournament-opening loss to West Indies but rallied to beat top-ranked England, a pre-tournament title favorite, to end a run of 11 straight defeats.

Sarfaraz and his squad are sick of being dubbed the most unpredictable team in ODI cricket, but it's the most reliable tag for them.

"It's the past. We're not thinking about that," Sarfaraz told a news conference on Tuesday, reflecting on the 5-0 drubbing inflicted by Australia just over two months ago. "Our morale is very high. Momentum is very high. So hopefully we'll do very good against them."

Against England, Pakistan's top order all got starts, with Imam-ul-Haq (44), Fakhar Zaman (36), Babar Azam (63), Mohammad Hafeez (84), and Sarfaraz (55) helping post a total of 348-8. The bowlers kept England to 334-9 in reply.

Australia has won 14 of the last 15 and two-thirds of the 100 completed ODIs overall between the two nations but has only a 5-4 edge in World Cups.

The wins include the 1999 final at Lord's the last time the tournament was in England, and the quarterfinals in 2015 en route to winning the title. Pakistan took the early honors in the '99 tournament with a 10-run win at Leeds in the league phase.

The Australians lost to India by 36 runs at the Oval on Sunday, when David Warner was uncharacteristically cautious in compiling his 56, Steve Smith scored 69, and the run-rate required eventually got way beyond the lower-order in the run chase.

Skipper Aaron Finch predicted Warner is just finding his rhythm and his strike rate will improve.

Allrounder Marcus Stoinis strained his side bowling his second spell against India and will miss the Pakistan game and possibly the rest of the tournament. Mitch Marsh is coming as cover as a precaution, and Finch said he's undecided about whether to add a batter or a bowler to the lineup against Pakistan.

"We have not won many matches against Australia but we had not won too many against England, either, and we managed to beat them," Sarfaraz said in comments published by the International Cricket Council. "We will be as positive and aggressive as we were against England - that is the level of performance we need to be successful against a team like Australia."

With wet weather around, the captain winning the toss will likely want to bowl first and take their chances on the Duckworth-Lewis revised run-rate targets. Pakistan's third game, against Sri Lanka, was washed out without a ball being bowled last Friday in nearby Bristol and the teams had to share the points. The Sri Lanka-Bangladesh game in Bristol was also abandoned because of rain and the South Africa-West Indies match at Southampton on Monday was washed out after 7.3 overs.

Sarfaraz would like his team's chances in a rain-shortened match, and has confidence after its unexpected title in the Champions Trophy in England two years ago.

Finch said his team was approaching the match with confidence but noted Wahab Riaz and Hasan Ali didn't play in the March series, and Mohammad Amir played only the first game, so he was expecting to face an entirely different attack.

"We've seen consistently throughout, especially ICC tournaments, they get themselves in a position to win the tournament," he said. "And they had a great Champions Trophy. So regardless of what kind of form Pakistan go in with, they're always incredibly dangerous.

"There's no player that you can disregard. They've got a lot of experience on their side, they've got a lot of match winners," he added. "Every time you come up against Pakistan you have to play your best to beat them." AP