ISLAMABAD: New comer Abdullah Shafiq and inform Mohamamd Rizwan guided Pakistan to a splendid victory Against Sri Lanka in a high-scoring contest played at Hyderabad on Tuesday. Despite putting a big total on board with Sri Lanka, both batters knocked superb centuries to make a huge target an easy one and beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets.
Chasing a huge target of 345 to win, Pakistan’s openers took a slow start where the side lost their first wicket on 16 when Imam, like in the previous game, pulled the ball towards the midwicket boundary. Imam scored just 12 runs. Pakistan came under further pressure when the skipper Babar Azam got out for just 10 runs. In 7.2 overs, Pakistan were 37 for 2. From there, Muhammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafiq continued the innings very cautiously. Till the 20th over, Pakistan hardly managed to score 100. However, after that, both the batters got momentum and took the side into the game.
Abdullah Shafiq completed his terrific maiden ODI World Cup century, while Rizwan completed his half-century and brought Sri Lankan under pressure. Both batters contributed 176 runs in partnership for Pakistan. When the score reached 213 in the 34th over Sri Lanka managed to break the partnership and got out Abdullah Shafiq. Abdullah scored 113 on 103 balls and proved his selection right. Meanwhile, Rizwan continued to take his side towards the target along with the new batter and inform Saud Shakeel despite suffering cramps. Both batters drew the inning to 271 for 3 in 40 overs. Despite cramps, Muhammad Rizwan also managed to completed his terrific hundred on 97 balls, including 2 sixes and 7 boundaries. Saud Shakil accompanied Rizwan well to take the side closer to the target. He scored 31 runs of 29 balls. Pakistan lost their fourth wicket on 308 in 45th over. Rizwan was joined by Iftikhar to manage a run-a-ball story from that stage as the side had required 31 runs in 30 balls.
Iftikhar and Rizwan both easily finished the game for the team in the 49th over and registered a victory by 6 wickets. This was the first in the World Cup and the second-highest-ever chase by Pakistan while batting second. Rizwan remained unbeaten while scoring 131 runs, while Iftikhar scored an unbeaten quick 22 runs.
From Sr Lanka, Madushanka got two wickets, while Pathirana and Theekshana took one wicket each.
Earlier winning the toss, Sri Lanka decided to bat first. Sri Lanka lost their first wicket on just five runs in the second over when Hasan Ali got red of Kusal Parera in Rizwan Safe hands. However, when Kusal Mendis joined Nissanka, both the batter’s baton charged the Pakistani bowlers. At the stage Imam-ul- Haq dropped a catch of Shaheen’s bowling, which helped the batters to play even more easily against Pakistan. Both completed their half-centuries.
In Over number 18th, Shadab Khan managed to dismiss Nissanka on 51. However, after reaching fifty, Kusal Mendis became even more ruthless, taking his side with a run rate of 10 runs per over from over number 20 to 30. Mendis completed his century and reached 122 on just 77 balls, including 14 boundaries and 6 terrific sixes. At the stage in
over number 29th Hassan Ali removed Mendis. But on the other hand, Sadeera took his side with some brilliant strokes. He completed his half-century in no time. In the 42nd over Sri Lanka lost their 5th wicket when the score reached 294. De Silva scored 25 runs.
Sri Lanka crossed the 300 milestone in the 44th over with Sadeera on the crease. After Kusal Mendis, Sadeera also completed his brilliant hundred on facing just 82 balls. Shaheen Afridi got his first wicket when he removed the skipper Shanaka on 12. At the stage, Sri Lanka were 324 for 6 in 46.3 overs. When the score reached 335, Hassan Ali got the wicket of Sadeera on the last ball of his spill. He scored 108 on 89 balls. In the fiftieth over Sri Lanka lost their 8th wicket when Haris Rauf bowled out Theekshana on zero. Haris took his second wicket on the last ball of the inning. In 50 overs Sri Lanka managed to score 344 runs for the last of 9 wickets. In the last 10 overs Pakistani bowlers bowled well, however, Sri Lankan batters had already managed to set a huge total.
From Pakistan, Hassan Ali was the most successful bowler who grabbed 4 wickets while conceding 71 runs in his 10 over spill. Haris Rauf got two wickets while Muhammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi took one wicket each. In general, it was not a good day for bowlers both from Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan Squad: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan †, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi and
Haris Rauf
Sri Lanka Squad: Kusal Parera, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana
