HYDERABAD: Pakistan’s newly-inducted opener Abdullah Shafique and wicketkeeper batter Muhammad Rizwan’s heroics helped Pakistan thrash Sri Lanka in World Cup 2023 match at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad.
Pakistan made it two wins from two World Cup matches as batsmen Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique hit centuries in a record run-chase to set up a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Chasing a daunting 345 after Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama smashed tons to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position, the 1992 champions got over the line in 48.2 overs thanks to Rizwan’s 131 not out and Abdullah’s 113.
Ireland had held the previous record for the highest run chase in World Cups with 329 against England in the 2011 edition.
Mendis dominated Pakistan’s bowlers earlier with 14 fours and six sixes to score 122 before Samarawickrama dropped anchor to make 108 as Sri Lanka posted 344-9 in 50 overs, though they were restricted at the end by Ali (4-71) and Haris Rauf (2-64).
Mendis reached his century in 65 balls – the fastest by a Sri Lankan at the World Cup – flicking pacer Hasan Ali for a six off his legs to eclipse former skipper Kumar Sangakkara, whose ton had come off 70 balls against England in the 2015 edition.
Pakistan got off to a shaky start as Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam inside eight overs and Shafique was cautious early on before cutting loose to build a superb 176-run partnership with Rizwan.
Shafique, who replaced the out-of-form Fakhar Zaman, cracked 10 fours and three sixes and was primed to stay until the end on his World Cup debut but he fell to Matheesha Pathirana after a stunning catch by substitute Dushan Hemantha.
Rizwan was hit on his face and battled cramps after getting into the eighties but soldiered on for his third century, before guiding them home in style.
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Sri Lanka had won the toss and had chosen to bat first. Pakistan’s lacklustre bowling helped Sri Lanka pile up a huge 344. Pakistan lost two early wickets as both Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam only scored 12 and 10 respectively.
LIVE SCORE
PAK 345/4
OVERS 50
SL- 344/9
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Pakistan had made one change to their playing 11 by replacing Fakhar Zaman with Abdullah Shafique while Sri Lanka have got their injured bowler Maheesh Theekshana back.
PAKISTAN PLAYING XI
IMAM-UL-HAQ
ABDULLAH SHAFIQUE
BABAR AZAM- C
MOHAMMAD RIZWAN
SAUD SHAKEEL
IFTIKHAR AHMED
SHADAB KHAN
MOHAMMAD NAWAZ
HASSAN ALI
SHAHEEN SHAH AFRIDI
HARIS RAUF
SRI LANKA PLAYING XI
PATHUM NISSANKA
KUSAL PERERA
KUSAL MENDIS
SADEERA SAMARAWICKRAMA
CHARITH ASALANKA
DHANANJAYA DE SILVA
DASUN SHANAKA- C
DUNITH WELLALAGE
MAHEESH THEEKSHANA
DILSHAN MADUSHANKA
MATHEESHA PATHIRANA
Though Pakistan enjoy an impeccable record against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup since 1975 defeating them on all seven occasions, the Islanders have recently outdone them. They lost a last-ball thriller in Colombo in the One-Day iteration of the Asia Cup last month and faced back-to-back defeats in the tournament’s T20 edition last year, with the last of the two matches being the final.
Babar Azam’s side entered the mega-event as the number two ranked ODI side and enjoys the best win/loss ratio of 2.400 in this World Cup cycle.
Pakistan missed out on a semi-final spot in the 2019 iteration of the World Cup because of a lower net run-rate to New Zealand, who ended up as runners-up. The team’s best performance came in the 1992 edition when they lifted the trophy at the MCG after defeating England. Pakistan featured in the final of the 1999 edition and reached semi-finals in 1979, 1983, 1987, and 2011.
A-Sports is telecasting the World Cup 2023 live on TV in Pakistan, alternatively you can watch the livestream on ARY ZAP.
