Rizwan, Abdullah hit first World Cup tons as Pakistan chase record 345 runs target

By: News Desk
Published: 09:46 PM, 10 Oct, 2023
Rizwan, Abdullah hit first World Cup tons as Pakistan chase record 345 runs target
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Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique clubbed centuries as Pakistan chased down the highest target in World Cup history to beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The diminutive Rizwan overcame leg cramps to score a 121-ball 131 not out while Shafique hit a 103-ball 113 as Pakistan overhauled their 345-run target in 48.2 overs.

The victory gives Pakistan two wins in as many games and a huge boost in confidence ahead of their high-profile clash against India in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

"Always proud when you perform like that. It was difficult and when you chase like that, it's special," said Rizwan.

"Every player in the dressing room had the belief we can chase that."

On his cramping, he said: "Sometimes cramps, sometimes acting!"

 He also became the leading scorer of the event with 199 runs after two matches.

Sri Lanka's imposing total of 344-9 was built around brilliant hundreds from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama.

"I thought with the way the wicket behaved, we were 20-25 runs short," said Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka.

Rizwan cracked eight boundaries and three sixes while Shafique's knock had ten boundaries and three sixes as Pakistan improved on the previous highest World Cup chase of 328 by Ireland against England in Bangalore in 2011.

Rizwan added a match-turning 176 run stand for the third wicket with Shafique and another 95 for the fourth with Saud Shakeel who made a 30-ball 31.

Rizwan and Shafique lifted Pakistan from a disastrous start in which they lost Imam-ul-Haq (12) and skipper Babar Azam (ten) to pacer Dilshan Madushanka.

Haq, who completed 3,000 runs in 67 innings to become the second joint fastest to the milestone, hooked into the hands of the fielder while Azam edged a flick behind the wicket.

Shafique, who replaced out-of-form Fakhar Zaman, justified his selection by reaching his maiden hundred off 97 balls.

Shafique fell in the 34th over to Matheesha Pathirana but Rizwan continued the chase, reaching his third ODI hundred off 97 balls.

He hit the winning single and raised his hands in delight.

When Sri Lanka batted, after winning the toss, Mendis smashed the fastest century for Sri Lanka in a World Cup match with a 77-ball 122, his highest score in ODIs and third century.

- Mendis dropped twice -

It was an innings spiced with 14 boundaries and half a dozen sixes, leading the charge for Sri Lanka while Samarawickrama hit an 89-ball 108 for his maiden hundred.

Samarawickrama hit 11 boundaries and two sixes.

Mendis twice escaped dropped catches -- Shaheen Shah Afridi dropped him off his own bowling in the fifth over and then Imam-ul-Haq blundered in the next over again off Shaheen on 18.

Mendis completed his 50 off 40 balls with his seventh boundary, lifting Sri Lanka from the early loss of Kusal Perera (nought) in the second over to Hasan Ali.

Mendis put on a 102 with Pathum Nissanka whose 51 came off 61 balls with seven boundaries and a six.

Once Nissanka fell to Shadab Khan, Mendis and Samarawickrama unleashed some superb hitting against Pakistan's pacers and spinners alike, adding 111 for the third wicket.

They were savage on fast bowler Haris Rauf, hitting him for two sixes and a boundary in the 21st over.

When Shaheen came back for a second spell, Mendis cracked three fours in the 25th over.

Hasan was hoisted by Mendis for a six to allow the batsman his third hundred off 65 balls.

It was his first century in three-and-a-half years but he had made 76 in the opening defeat to South Africa and now has at least five half-centuries in his last seven ODIs.

Previously, Kumar Sangakkara held the Sri Lanka World Cup record with a 70-ball hundred, scored against England in 2015.

Mendis's previous best was 119 against the West Indies in Hambantota in February 2020.

Mendis hit two sixes off Hasan's 29th over before he holed out at deep mid-wicket boundary.

Hasan then removed Charith Asalanka for one but Samarawickrama and Dhananjaya de Silva (25) added 65 for the fifth wicket.

Hasan finished as the best bowler with 4-71 while Rauf took 2-64.

https://twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1711669514897641948

Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first in the 2023 World Cup clash against Pakistan being played in the Indian city of Hyderabad.

After winning the toss, Sri Lankan skipper Shanaka expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, particularly the spin observed in the latter half of recent games.

Captain Babar Azam. Meanwhile, was optimistic about the pitch conditions, emphasizing that the first ten overs will be crucial for Pakistan.

Having spent a week and a half familiarising themselves with the wicket and outfield, the team is well-prepared. The lineup sees one change with Abdullah Shafique stepping in for Fakhar.

TEAMS

Pakistan XI: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka

The Indian city of Hyderabad is in for a treat as Pakistan and Sri Lanka, two former world champions, lock horns in the ICC World Cup 2023 match today

The city's weather conditions, coupled with its famed cricket pitch, have always offered an intriguing play between batsmen and bowlers.

In their famous rivalry, covering 156 One-Day International (ODI) matches, Pakistan boast an impressive track record with 92 wins. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has earned 59 victories. But, it's the World Cup stats that raise eyebrows: out of their eight encounters in the tournament's past, Sri Lanka haven’t managed to outpace Pakistan even once. Seven matches tilted in favour of Pakistan and one ended in a tie in 2019 due to rain.

Given the weight of history, Sri Lanka's recent loss against South Africa – despite a commendable chase of 326 runs – might be playing on their thoughts. South Africa's mammoth score of 428 surely set the bar high early in the event. Conversely, Pakistan began their campaign with a convincing 81-run win over the Netherlands, positioning themselves as formidable contenders.

As for today's duel in Hyderabad, fast bowlers are expected to relish the initial overs. Seamers and swingers might be the showstoppers initially, but as the day progresses, spin wizards will likely control the match’s tempo.

The expansive outfield of Hyderabad's stadium promises to challenge the players. Batsmen, especially during the second innings, will have ample opportunity to take control, pushing for swift runs and converting ones into twos.

However, nature might just throw a slight curveball. The skies over Hyderabad are painted with clouds, suggesting a possible, albeit minor, hiccup in play. But, as per AccuWeather's forecast, rain's chance stands at a mere 2%.

Pakistan Probable XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.

Sri Lanka Probable XI:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka.

What coach Bradburn says

Pakistan coach Grant Bradburn said during the pre-match press conference, “We want our players to play impact performances. It's not about individually (performing) anymore. It's about us as a team."

Reclaiming no. 1 position?

If Pakistan manage to defeat Sri Lanka, it is likely to reclaim its position as the world's number 1 team. In all probability, Pakistan will face India on October 14 as the top-ranked ODI side in the world. But, to get to that, Babar Azam's boys will have to move past Sri Lankan Lions. And, that is not an easy task.

Form guide

Pakistan have won three of their last five matches whereas Sri Lanka have lost three of their last five. Most importantly, Pakistan are coming to this match with an emphatic win against Afghanistan while Lanka are coming with a crushing defeat against South Africa.

Sri Lanka have a dismal record against Pakistan when it comes to ODI World Cups. They have not yet managed to win even once in the eight encounters in the past. Pakistan won seven of those while one match ended in a tie. Can the Lions roar now and create history this time? Only time will tell us.

Head-to-head record

Pakistan v Sri Lanka record ahead of their World Cup group game at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad (Match starts 0830GMT):

Last 10 meetings:

26/07/2015: Hambantota - Sri Lanka won by 165 runs

12/06/2017: Cardiff - Pakistan won by 3 wickets

13/10/2017: Dubai - Pakistan won by 83 runs

16/10/2017: Abu Dhabi - Pakistan won by 32 runs

18/10/2017: Abu Dhabi - Pakistan won by 7 wickets

20/10/2017: Sharjah - Pakistan won by 7 wickets

23/10/2017: Sharjah - Pakistan won by 9 wickets

30/09/2019: Karachi - Pakistan won by 67 runs

02/10/2019: Karachi - Pakistan won by 5 wickets

14/09/2023: Colombo - Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets

Overall:

Pakistan: 92 wins

Sri Lanka: 59 wins

Tied: 1

No Result: 4

World Cup showdown

 

Matches: 8

Pakistan won: 7

Sri Lanka won: 0

Tied/NR: 1

 

Face-offs on Indian soil

 

Matches: 7

Pakistan won: 4

Sri Lanka won: 3

Tied/NR: 0

Matches played in India have provided an interesting twist to this rivalry. In seven ODIs held on Indian grounds, Pakistan has secured four wins, while Sri Lanka has managed to win three. This balanced record hints at the competitive nature of their contests on Indian soil, showcasing how neutral territory can sometimes level the playing field.

One of the most exciting storylines in the lead-up to their World Cup clash is the return of Sri Lanka’s prime spinner, Mahesh Theekshana. After missing their opening match due to injury, Theekshana’s comeback adds a new dimension to Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, potentially levelling the playing field against Pakistan.

As the cricketing world eagerly awaits their encounter, the clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka promises to be a thrilling contest. Pakistan aims to maintain its unbeaten record in World Cup encounters against Sri Lanka, while Sri Lanka hopes to build on its recent success and turn the tide in this historic rivalry.

In a tournament filled with drama and excitement, this match is one that fans of both teams and cricket enthusiasts worldwide will be watching closely, eager to witness the next chapter in the rich history of Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka ODIs.
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