PAK vs SL: Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan centuries guide Pakistan to highest-ever run-chase in ODI World Cups

Pakistan batters Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan scored centuries to guide their side to the highest-ever chase in the history of ODI World Cups. Pakistan chased down 345 runs to beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023: Full Coverage

The match began with Sri Lanka choosing to bat first after winning the toss. Despite an early setback with the dismissal of opener Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, along with Pathum Nissanka, steadied the innings with a strong partnership. Nissanka scored a commendable half-century before being dismissed by Shadab Khan in the 18^th over.

MENDIS, SAMARAWICKRAMA TAKE THE ATTACK TO PAKISTAN

Sadeera Samarawickrama walked into bat after Sri Lanka lost their second wicket at 107 in the form of Nissanka and then aided Mendis, who was going hell for leather in Hyderabad.

Mendis then went on to break legendary batter Kumar Sangakkara’s record to hit the fastest century by a Sri Lankan in the history of ODI World Cups. Mendis smashed a 65-ball hundred against Pakistan to get his side off to a flyer. Mendis also became the only Sri Lankan batter to hit a century against Pakistan in ODI World Cups.

Mendis scored 122 runs off 71 deliveries, smashing 14 boundaries and six maximums before being dismissed by pacer Hasan Ali in the 29^th over. After Mendis departed for 122 and Charith Asalanka failed to move the scoreboard much, Sadeera shared a 50-plus stand with Dhananjaya de Silva.

Sadeera brought up his maiden ODI century in the 47^th over before falling at the hands of Hasan Ali. But the damage had already been done by then as Sri Lanka finished with 344 for 9 on the board.

In the second innings, pacer Dilshan Madushanka provided Sri Lanka with the perfect start, removing opener Imam-ul-Haq and skipper Babar Azam in quick succession.

SHAFIQUE, RIZWAN TURN THE GAME’S TIDE

However, Abdullah Shafique, who had come into the side in place of Fakhar Zaman, scored a masterful century and stitched a crucial 176-run stand with wicket-keeping batter Mohammad Rizwan. Shafique got to his maiden ODI century on his World Cup debut off 97 balls.

Following his century, Shafique upped the ante and smashed a couple of boundaries before being dismissed due to a phenomenal diving catch by substitute fielder Dushan Hemantha. Shafique scored 113 runs off 103 balls, hitting 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Then Rizwan formed yet another important partnership, this time with Saud Shakeel. He got his the three-figure mark in 97 balls in the 42^nd over. Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Saud Shakeel in the 45^th over but it was too little too late from the Lankans as Pakistan looked on their way to a historic win in Hyderabad.

Following Shakeel’s dismissal, Iftikhar Ahmed scored a 10-ball 22 while Rizwan remained unbeaten on 134 runs off 120 balls, hitting eight boundaries and three sixes. Rizwan’s knock helped Pakistan chase down Sri Lanka’s 345-run target with six wickets and 10 balls remaining.

Following their historic win over Sri Lanka, Pakistan will get ready to take on hosts India in a heavyweight clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14.