Cricket World Cup: Pakistan pip Sri Lanka by 6 wickets

Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama's heroics helped Sri Lank post a huge total of 344/9 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad putting them in a commanding position in the first innings. However, Mohammed Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique delivered a knockout punch by smashing hundreds which played a key role in the history-making chase.

Hyderabad: It was a cliffhanger in the end in which Pakistan pipped Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to register their second win in the ICC World Cup 2023 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Tuesday.

Replying to Sri Lanka’s huge 344/9, Pakistan faltered in the beginning losing two quick wickets of Imam-ul Haq (12) and Babar Azam (10). But twin centuries from opener Abdullah Shafiq (113) and wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan (131 not out) made a match of it. Shafiq’s 113 came off 103 balls with 10 hits to the fences and 3 hits over the fences. The opener took the Sri Lankan bowling to task even after losing two crucial wickets. Rizwan stayed till the end to see Pakistan through. Rizwan hit eight fours and three sixes to help Pakistan win the tie with 10 balls to spare. It was Sri Lanka’s second loss on the trot.

Earlier, Sri Lanka rode on blistering hundreds by Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama to post a mammoth 344/9 on the board against Pakistan in their league game of the ongoing ODI World Cup here on Tuesday.

Mendis, who hit the fastest ODI World Cup for Sri Lanka, surpassing the great Kumara Sangakkara, took the listless Pakistani attack to task. He and Samarawickrama justified skipper Dasun Shanaka's decision to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Pacer Hasan Ali removed Kusal Perera (0) cheaply but Pathum Nissanka (51 off 61 balls; 7 fours; one six) and Kusal Mendis (122 off 77 balls) steadied the Sri Lankan ship by forging a 102-run stand for the second wicket.

Mendis, who hammered 14 fours and as many as six sixes, played round the park. After Nissanka departed, Mendis found an able ally in Samarawickrama, who hammered 11 fours and two sixes in his 108-run knock. It was Samarawickrama's maiden hundred. Mendis and Samarawickrama conjured a 111-run stand for the third wicket, which took the game away from Pakistan.

Once Mendis departed, Samarawickrama took the onus of scoring runs. Dhananjaya De Silva also played his part to perfection with a 34-ball 25. The Pakistani bowlers ran through the Sri Lankan lower-middle order, but it was too little and too late. For Pakistan, pacer Hasan Ali (4/71) was the pick of the bowlers, while Haris Rauf picked two wickets conceding 64 runs and Shaheen Afridi (1/66), Shadab Khan (1/55) and Mohammad Nawaz (1/62) picked a wicket each.