Mendis, Samarawickrama tons aid Sri Lanka to set 345 target for Pakistan

Mendis, Samarawickrama tons aid Sri Lanka to set a 345-run target for Pakistan in the 8th match of World Cup 2023 being played at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in India on Tuesday.

The decision to bat first after winning the toss proved best for Sri Lanka as  Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama played a ruthless game to smash two tons.

As Sri Lanka opened the innings, in the second over, Hasan Ali struck and sent back Kusal Perera without opening the account.

After the first wicket fell for just five runs, Kaushal Mendes came in to support Pathum Nisanka and both of them overcame the initial loss by playing responsibly.

Mendes and Nissanka played well and completed their respective half-centuries as they put on a 102-run partnership for the second wicket.

The partnership ended when Nissanka, who scored 51 runs, was caught trying to cut Shadab’s delivery.

After that, Sadeera Samarawickrama came to support Kaushal Mendes and both of them played aggressively and did not let the pace of runs decrease and started taking all the Pakistani bowlers with their hands.

Both the players, especially Mendes, batted at a fast pace which can be estimated from the fact that they put on a partnership of 111 runs off 69 balls, meanwhile, Mendes completed his century by hitting Hasan Ali for a six.

In Hassan’s next over, Mendes hit him for two more sixes, but in another such attempt, he was caught by Imam-ul-Haq on the boundary.

Pakistan did not have to wait long for the next wicket and Hasan Ali forced Charith Asalanka back to the pavilion with the help of Rizwan’s fine catch.

From the other end, Samarawickrama continued his fine batting streak and added 68 runs for the fifth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva as well as completing his fifty.

Pakistan got their fifth win when Dhananjaya de Silva became the wicket of Mohammad Nawaz after scoring 25 runs.

Samarawickrama continued his excellent form and scored his maiden century in ODI cricket but Shaheen Afridi got Dasan Chanaka going from the other end.

Samarawickrama’s fine innings came to an end when Hasan Ali took his wicket after scoring 108 runs.

In the closing overs, the Sri Lankan batsmen could not bat much faster and scored runs at an average of six.

Haris Rauf took two wickets for one run in the last over and Sri Lanka scored 344 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted overs.

Playing XIs

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

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