Hyderabad, 11 October 2023 (TDI): The two Asian giants in cricket, Pakistan and Sri Lanka faced off each other in the 8th match of Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2023, on October 10, in Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Pakistan secured victory over Sri Lanka by 6 wickets with 10 balls remaining.
The Sri Lanka captain, Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bat first.
With the Sri Lankan batsman, Pathum Nissanka opening the innings with a score of 50 runs, Sri Lanka immediately landed on a troubling scoreboard with Kusal Perera getting out without putting runs on the scoreboard.
However, Kusal Mendis was the star of the show for Sri Lanka for the second successive game, with the big-hitting majestic century to get his side off to a phenomenal start to the innings.
Sadeera Samarawickrama anchored Menis to build a formidable total of 344 as he stroked an excellent hundred of his own, departing for 108 from 89 balls.
The Pakistani bowlers at the start of the innings gave a tough competition to the Sri Lankan batsmen with Hasan Ali tremendously taking 4 wickets at 71 runs.
With Samarawickrama helping take Sri Lanka beyond a score of 300, Sri Lanka was looking to finish big and set Pakistan’s battling line-up a big challenge but became Hasan’s fourth wicket as he looked to play a reverse pull to find a gap in the outfield.
Pakistani bowlers did well to keep the scoring in check as wickets fell at useful and regular intervals.
But, Pakistan’s chase got off to a disappointing start, with both opening batsmen, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka scoring only 12 and 10 runs respectively.
However, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammed Rizwan steadied the scoreboard with a partnership worth 176 for the third wicket and wrapped up their superb six-wicket win with 10 balls to spare.
Abdullah Shafique also hit his first ODI century in his fledgling ODI career with a remarkable score of 113.
Mohammed Rizwan, who collapsed with cramp at one stage during his brilliant innings, steered Pakistan to the highest-ever chase in the tournament’s history.
Also read: Pakistan kicks off World Cup journey with a victorious start
Pakistani cricketers had only once chased a score over 340 in their ODI history, while their previous highest World Cup chase was 263, so they required a record effort to make it two wins from two at the tournament.
Pakistan remains unbeaten at the Cricket World Cup, with this extraordinary victory following their impressive win first-up against the Netherlands.
The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match was the first time in men’s Cricket World Cup history that four centuries have been hit in the same match, with Pakistan coming out on top in a high-scoring thriller.
