Hyderabad: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in a high-scoring thriller as Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan played scintillating knocks to take the team over the finishing line. Also, they registered their name in the history books as it is highest ever total chased in a World Cup game.
- 10.21 pm
Three consecutive boundaries from Iftikhar Ahmed in the 48th over has sealed the game for Pakistan and also they have achieved a historic feat of chasing highest total in the history of the World Cup. - 10.17 pm
In spite of suffering a cramp, Rizwan is in the middle with an aim to take his team over the finish line. However, last two overs have been economical and that has made the equation interesting. - 10.11 pm
Theekshana bowled a brilliant carrom ball and Iftikhar Ahmed failed to read it. However, the outside edge raced towards the fence as there was no slip fielder in the place. Pakistan are now within touching distance of a victory. - 10.05 pm
Saud Shakeel walks back to the pavilion as his attempt to play through the covers failed and the outside edge flew towards Wellalage at point. Theekshana provides breakthrough in crunch situation for the team. - 9.59 pm
Saud Shakeel also joins his teammate and smashes a boundary with a sweep against Theekshana. The contest is going down the wire as Pakistan need 50 runs from 40 balls. - 9.49 pm
Mohammed Rizwan has smashed his third ODI. The wicket-keeper batter has fought his way even after suffering a cramp. The onus to take his team to victory will be now on his shoulders. - 9.43 pm
Rizwan has taken the charge now and he is nearing his hundred along with taking Pakistan within close distance of the win. - 9.08 pm
A heartbreak moment for Pakistan as dangerous looking Abdullah gets out as Dushan Hemantha produces a blinder at point to grab a lofted square cut from the batter. - 9.06 pm
25 runs in the last two overs by the duo. They are now taking Pakistan near the target. - 8.52 pm
Shafique completes his maiden ODI ton with a pull toward mid-wicket. Rizwan-Shafique duo is looking dangerous now as both the batters are middlingthe ball. - 8.45 pm
Shafique is now nearing his hundred and he smashes a six and a boundary against Wellalage taking his aggression to the next level. - 8.38 pm
Rizwan slams his half-century and both the batters are now middling the ball. This is his fouth fifty in the last five innings. - 8.30 pm
Abdullah is now looking well settled and he showcased it with a boundary against Asalanka over mid-off. Pakistan now need to score at a run rate of 8.43 - 8.20 pm
Rizwan now tries to break the shackles against Wellalage as required run rate is rising above eight. He came down the track and lofted a delivery outside off over extra cover to earn four runs. Also, a century partnership for third wicket is complete. - 8.10 pm
Both the batters are taking forward their parternship slowly but Rizwan isn't looking comfortable against spinners yet. - 8.00 pm
Shafique completes his half-century with a single and the pair is now keeping Pakistan in the game by staging a recovery. - 7.42 pm
Shafique tries to break shackles as he smashes a six against Pathirana towards square leg. However, Wellalage bowled an economical over next and required run rate is rising for the chasing side. - 7.32 pm
Shafique is now focusing on keeping the scorecard busy by taking singles and doubles. - 7.23 pm
Both the batters are now looking to stitch their partnership steadily and pull out Pakistan from the damage caused by two early breakthroughs including prized scalp of Babar Azam. - 7.13 pm
Shanaka and Madhushanka are now troubling the opposition batters with their swing and seam movement. The onus to stage a recovery will be on Mohammad Rizwan now. - 7.00 pm
Babar Azam departs in one of the most unfortunate ways. Madushanka bowled third delivery of the over down the leg and the Pakistan captain tries to play a flick. However, the ball deflected from the inside edge of the willow and Babar walks back to the hut - 6.45 pm
Pakistan lost opener Imam-Ul-Haq (12 runs off 12 balls) cheaply. Sri Lankan pacer Dilshan Madhushanka drew the first ball. Imam was caught by Kusal Perera in the deep. Skipper Babar Azam joined Abduhallah Shafique in the middle as the two had a tough task of rebuilding the innings. - 6.28 pm
Imam-Ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique open the inning with a humongous task of chasing a 300+ score on their hands. Sri Lankan skipper keeps faith on Maheesh Theekshana to start the proceedings with the ball. - 5.58 pm
Haris Rauf also cleans up Wellalage on the last delivery and Sri Lanka finished just six runs short of the 350-run mark. - 5.54 pm
Haris Rauf cleans up Maheesh Theekshana on a duck and the onus to take Sri Lanka over 350 will be on tail-enders. - 5.47 pm
Hasan Ali dismisses Samarawickrama as the batter's failed attempt to play a switch hit went straight into Rizwan's gloves. The bowler showcases sportsmanship by patting on the batters' heads for the kind of knock he played. Also, Samarawickrama receives a standing ovation from the crowd. - 5.39 pm
Another dismissal for Sri Lanka as Dasun Shanaka plays a lofted shot in the hands of the long-off fielder. Wickets are tumbling from the other end but Samarawickrama stands firm at one. - 5.34 pm
Samarawickrama makes his maiden ODI ton in 82 balls and Sri Lanka are on their way to post a huge total for the opposition. - 5.24 pm
Samarawickrama is now on attack and marching towards his century. He smashes an inside-out over extra cover against Nawaz and the team total might also reach the 350-run mark. - 5.14 pm
Mohammed Nawaz gets rid of Dhananjaya de Silva as he advances down the track to go for a big hit but mistimes it. It came off the bottom of the bat and Shaheen Afridi, who was stationed at long-off caught it easily. - 5.12 pm
Three boundaries in the last two overs from Samarawickrama and if he continues this way, Sri Lanka might reach near about 350-run mark. - 4.57 pm
Dhananjaya de Silva and Samarawickrama are now forging an alliance steadily and their partnership can take the team total around 350-run mark. - 4.46 pm
Dhananjaya de Silva is settling on the crease while Samarawickrama is now looking to steer the innings after reaching his fifty. - 4.30 pm
Hasan Ali got his third wicket of the innings by dismissing C Asalanka, who edged to Mohammed Rizwan. Rizwan took a diving chase as Pakistan made a comeback into the game. For Sri Lanka, their hopes are now pinned on Sadeera Samarawickrama, who is nearing his half-century. - 4.19 pm
Kusal Mendis's fine innings (122 off 77 balls) ended courtesy of a stunning catch on the boundary line by Imam-ul-Haq. Pacer Hasan Ali got his second wicket. Mendis tore apart the Pakistan attack by hammering 14 fours and six maximums and laid foundation of a big Sri Lankan score. - 4.06 pm
Mendis reaches his third ODI century and that too in just 65 balls. He smashes a flick over deep mid-wicket for maximum and touches the milestone. It was the fastest-ever hundred by a Sri Lankan in the Cricket World Cup history. - 3.59 pm
Kusla Mendis smashed three consecutive boundaries against Shaheen Afridi in the backward point area. - 3.49 pm
Both Mendis and Samarawickrama have started smashing balls to all parts of the ground and the partnership has reached 51 runs from, just 29 balls as a result. - 3.40 pm
Kusal Mendis is displaying a fine array of strokes. He pulls one back-of-a-length delivery from Haris Rauf for a maximum. - 3.34 pm
Haris Rauf troubled Sadeera Samarawickrama with a brilliant over. However, Mendis is scoring runs with ease on the other end. - 3.24 pm
Shadab Khan has come up with a crucial breakthrough for Pakistan as Nissanka played a lofted cut shot straight in the hands of the backward point and Abdullah Shafique made no mistake in grabbing the sitter. - 3.20 pm
Pathum Nissanka has reached his 9th ODI half-century while Mendis displayed plans of switching gears in the last over as he hit a maximum against Shadab with a slog-sweep. - 3.08 pm
Nissanka is now nearing his fifty as the game progresses and the partnership is also blooming to put Sri Lanka in a strong position. - 2.57 pm
Mendis and Nissanka have formed a partnership of 60 runs till now and are on their way to stage a recovery after the loss of an early wicket. - 2.36 pm
Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka are playing without taking any risks. Nissanka hammered Hasan Ali for a six over his head in the eight-over. - 2.24 pm
Kusal Mendis joined Pathum Nissanka as the two will try to steady the Sri Lankan and rebuild the innings. They are hammering loose balls but playing with caution. - 2.08 pm
Pacer Hasan Ali removed Kusal Perera in the second over. Perera, who departed for a 'duck' was caught by Mohammad Rizwan. Hasan Ali provided his side with an early breakthrough. - 1.56 pm
The National Anthem of both the teams are played at the Stadium. Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera come out in the middle. For Pakistan, left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi started the proceedings. Nissanka hit the first four of the match on the fifth ball. - 1.36 pm
Team: Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(wicketkeeper), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(captain), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf
- 1.30 pm
Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bat first. Sri Lanka has made one change to their playing eleven with Maheesh Theekshana coming in for Kasun Rajitha. Pakistan also has made one change with Abdullah Shafique playing in place of Fakhar Zaman.
