Pakistan with a historic chase of 345 runs, beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets

Pakistan with a historic chase of 345 runs, beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets on Tuesday in the 8th match of World Cup 2023 at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in India.

Pakistan lost its top-order batters, Imam-ul-Haq (12) and Babar Azam (10) to pacer Dilshan Madushanka, in just 7.1 overs and with only 37 runs on the scoreboard.

Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique’s heroic partnership paved the way for the victory after suffering early blows.

Their 176-run stand provided the Pakistan team a much-needed break and got them in a dominating position.

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.

Mohammad Rizwan, who fought his way through cramps for his ton, went not out scoring 131 off 121-balls, including eight boundaries and three sixes.

This is Pakistan’s second-highest individual score in the World Cup overtaking Ramiz Raja’s 119 against New Zealand in 1992.

While Shafique smashed a 103-ball 113 as Pakistan overhauled their 345-run target in 48.2 overs.

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

Sri Lanka opted to bat first after winning the toss.

With the staggering batting display by Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sri Lanka posted a massive 344-run total.

Pakistan will now play India on October 14 in Ahmedabad and Sri Lanka will lock horns with Australia on October 16 in Lucknow.

Today’s Playing XIs

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

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