Run-fest in Hyderabad as Pakistan overhaul Lanka’s 345-run target for the loss of four wickets with 10 balls to spare
Hyderabad: Mohammad Rizwan battled severe cramps to smash an unbeaten century, while young Abdullah Shafique hit a maiden ton as Pakistan scripted a world-record chase to edge out Sri Lanka by six wickets in a high-scoring ODI to continue their winning run in the World Cup here on Tuesday, Oct 10, a PTI report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
With a match-winning 176-run stand for the third wicket with the 23-year-old Shafique (113), Rizwan paced his innings superbly as the two began a determined campaign in their chase of a stiff 345 and then added another 95 runs with Saud Shakeel (31) as Pakistan romped home to victory in 48.2 overs.
This was the highest successful run-chase in the history of the World Cup as Pakistan extended their winning streak against Sri Lanka in World Cups to an overwhelming 8-0.
Ireland had previously held the record for the highest run chase in ODI World Cups when they successfully chased down 329 versus England during the 2011 World Cup in India.
Opting to bat, Sri Lanka dished out a dominating batting performance to post a challenging 344 for nine, built around the superlative hundreds by Kusal Mendis (122) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (108).
Sri Lanka then left Pakistan reeling at 37 for 2 in 7.2 overs with Dilshan Madushanka claiming both the wickets. However, Shafique, playing only his fifth ODI, showed great maturity as he and Rizwan steadied the ship, bringing up the team’s 100 in the 19th over.
Shafique, who replaced Fakhar Zaman, and Rizwan looked for damage control initially but slowly picked up pace with the former scoring his fifty off 58 balls.
Soon, the 100-run stand between the two was up as Pakistan reached 138 for 2 at the halfway mark with Sri Lanka desperately looking for a breakthrough.
While Shafique hit two sixes over midwicket and one straight down the ground, Rizwan too produced an inside-out drive off Wellalage for four and another cut shot behind point to score his fifty off 58 balls.
Once Shafique picked up his maiden ODI ton in the 32nd over, Rizwan smashed two sixes in two balls off Madhushanka to help Pakistan cross the 200-mark and put it in a position of strength.
A sensational diving catch by substitute Dushan Hemantha ended Shafique’s stay but Sri Lanka couldn’t make use of the opening.
Needing 132 runs off 102 balls, Rizwan hit two fours and a six before he fell down writhing in pain due to cramps. Despite the discomfort, the 31-year-old kept going and reached his third hundred in the 42nd over.
Rizwan and Saud Shakeel (31) brought the equation down to 62 off 48 balls with Sri Lanka too missing a few catches as 300 was up in the 44th over.
Needing 20 off 18 balls, Iftikhar Ahmed then smashed three fours off Matheesha Pathirana to dash the Islanders’ hopes.
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