Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan smashed match-winning centuries as Pakistan registered a 7-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on Tuesday to record the highest-ever run chase in the history of 50-over World Cups. Earlier, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama hit brilliant centuries to propel Sri Lanka to 344 for 9. Pakistan chased the score with 10 balls to spare.
Reporting from Hyderabad
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In Delhi, Sri Lankan bowlers conceded the highest-ever score in World Cups to South Africa, whilst in Hyderabad, they conceded the highest-ever run-chase proving their inexperience and inability to penetrate quality batting units.
Defending 345 runs to win, Kusal Perera held onto a good catch at fine-leg as Imam Ul-Haq skied one up off Dilshan Madushanka. Pakistan captain Babar Azam edged behind down the leg side as Madushanka took his second scalp as Samarawickrama held onto a great take. Samarawickrama was keeping wickets throughout the innings as Mendis was taken to the hospital for a scan due to cramps.
At 37 for 2, Rizwan joined Shafique and they constructed a solid second wicket stand of 176 runs from just 156 balls, which is also the highest partnership for any wicket at this venue. Shafique, playing his first World Cup game, scored his maiden ODI century.
Shafique and Rizwan punished all the lose deliveries bowled by Sri Lanka, especially the short deliveries which sat up quite easily to put away.
When the game was going away from the grasp of Sri Lanka, the substitute fielder Dushan Hemantha took a brilliant diving catch at cover point to end Shafique’s knock for 113.
Even though Rizwan was struggling with a back spasm and cramps, he managed to notch up another crucial stand of 95 runs off 68 balls with Saud Shakeel for the 4th wicket to get closer to the target.
Rizwan reached his 3rd ODI century in 97 balls and stayed till the end to see them through scoring his highest individual score (131*).
Mendis reached his three-figure mark in just 65 balls making it the fastest century by a Sri Lankan in World Cups, surpassing the previous record held by Kumar Sangakkara, who hit a 70-ball hundred against England in the 2015 World Cup. The current Sri Lankan vice-captain hit 122 off just 77 balls with 14 fours and 6 sixes continuing his rich form. It’s also his 3rd ODI century in 114 games. Also, it was his first hundred after 1322 days.
Playing the second fiddle for most of his innings, Samarawickrama played his strokes with a touch of elegance and found the gaps quite often. It’s also Samarawickrama’s maiden ODI ton, which he brought up in just 82 balls.
After opting to bat first, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera early on when he nicked behind off Hasan Ali. Kusal Mendis was dropped on 8 by Shaheen Shah Afridi, a return catch and 18, by Imam Ul-haq at cover point.
Mendis and opening batter Pathum Nissanka laid a solid foundation for the Lions with a commanding 102 run stand for the second wicket in just 94 balls. Nissanka reached his fifty and fell soon afterwards, failing to convert a good start.
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Mendis was joined by Samarawickrama and they simply took the game away with a brilliant stand of 111 runs in just 69 balls as Pakistan had no answers to this onslaught.
Following Mendis’ dismissal, Pakistan managed to restrict the run flow somewhat as they picked up Charith Asalanka immediately. However, Samarawickrama continued to score runs with ease as he added a valuable half-century partnership with Dhananjaya De Silva for the 5th wicket. Samarawickrama fell in the 48th over after a solid knock of 108 off 89 deliveries with 11 fours and 2 sixes.
Sri Lanka will be a tad disappointed that they managed only 61 runs in the last 10 overs whilst losing 5 wickets as skipper Dasun Shanaka and the rest of the lower order could not capitalize on the start which eventually cost them the game.
Now with this win, in 8 completed ICC Cricket World Cup matches, Pakistan have beaten Sri Lanka in all 8 matches.
Sri Lanka – 344/9 in 50 overs: Pathum Nissanka 51, Kusal Mendis 122, Sadeera Samarawickrama 108, Hassan Ali 4/71, Haris Rauf 2/64.
Pakistan – 345/4 in 48.2 overs: Abdullah Shafique 113, Mohammad Rizwan 131, Saud Shakeel 31, Dilshan Madushanka 2/60.
>>ICC Cricket World Cup 2023<<
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Abdullah Shafique b Shadab Khan | 51 | 61 | 7 | 1 | 83.61 |
| Kusal Perera | c Mohammad Rizwan b Hasan Ali | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kusal Mendis | c Imam-ul-Haq b Hasan Ali | 122 | 77 | 14 | 6 | 158.44 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | c Mohammad Rizwan b Hasan Ali | 108 | 89 | 11 | 2 | 121.35 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Mohammad Rizwan b Hasan Ali | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | c Shaheen Shah Afridi b Mohammad Nawaz | 25 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 73.53 |
| Dasun Shanaka | c Babar Azam b Shaheen Shah Afridi | 12 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Dunith Wellalage | c Abdullah Shafique b Haris Rauf | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Mahesh Theekshana | b Haris Rauf | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Matheesha Pathirana | not out | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Extras | 14 (b 2 , lb 2 , nb 1, w 9, pen 0) |
| Total | 344/9 (50 Overs, RR: 6.88) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 9 | 0 | 66 | 1 | 7.33 | |
| Hasan Ali | 10 | 0 | 71 | 4 | 7.10 | |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 9 | 0 | 62 | 1 | 6.89 | |
| Haris Rauf | 10 | 0 | 64 | 2 | 6.40 | |
| Shadab Khan | 8 | 0 | 55 | 1 | 6.88 | |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdullah Shafique | c Dushan Hemantha b Matheesha Pathirana | 113 | 103 | 9 | 3 | 109.71 |
| Imam-ul-Haq | c Kusal Perera b Dilshan Madushanka | 12 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Babar Azam | c Sadeera Samarawickrama b Dilshan Madushanka | 10 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | not out | 131 | 121 | 8 | 3 | 108.26 |
| Saud Shakeel | c Dunith Wellalage b Mahesh Theekshana | 31 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 103.33 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | not out | 22 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 220.00 |
| Extras | 26 (b 0 , lb 0 , nb 1, w 25, pen 0) |
| Total | 345/4 (48.2 Overs, RR: 7.14) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahesh Theekshana | 10 | 0 | 59 | 1 | 5.90 | |
| Dilshan Madushanka | 9.2 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 6.52 | |
| Dasun Shanaka | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 5.60 | |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 9 | 0 | 90 | 1 | 10.00 | |
| Dunith Wellalage | 10 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 6.20 | |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 | |
| Charith Asalanka | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10.00 | |
