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.
