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World Cup 2023 | Rizwan, Shafique Centuries Subdue Mendis Special In A Record PAK Chase

image-lnkke6feAbdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan in action against SL (AP)

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka: 344-9 (50 overs) [Kusal Mendis: 122 (77), Sadeera Samarawickrama: 108 (89); Hasan Ali 4/71 (10), Haris Rauf 2/64 (10)] lost to Pakistan: 345-4 (48.2 overs) [Mohammad Rizwan: 131* (121), Abdullah Shafique: 113 (103); Dilshan Madushanka 2/60 (9.2), Maheesh Theekshana 1/59 (10)] by six wickets.

Pakistan made it two out of two this 2023 World Cup in Hyderabad by defeating Sri Lanka in a high-scoring thriller on October 10.

Kusal Mendis, Samarawickrama flourish in big SL total

Sri Lanka, after opting to bat first, made full use of pristine batting conditions on offer at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. While opener Kusal Perera was dismissed by Hasan Ali for a duck upfront, his partner Pathum Nissanka settled early nerves with a crafty 51 while number three Kusal Mendis bludgeoned a 65-ball 100 on his way to a whirlwind 122.

Mendis’ 77-ball thunder was laced with six maximums and 14 elegant boundaries, and he was assisted by Sadeera Samarawickrama in their 111-run stand from just 64 balls. Samarawickrama himself produced 108 to whack his maiden ODI hundred, as the duo set up a concrete Sri Lankan base for a 400-plus total.

However, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi pulled things back with late wickets as Sri Lanka eventually had to drag themselves to 344-9. Ali in particular ended up unfurling the spell of the high-scoring match by finishing with figures of 4-71.

Mohammad Rizwan ensures Pakistan hunts down record World Cup chase

Imam-ul-Haq was gone for 12 while captain and batting maverick Babar Azam gifted his wicket away to Sri Lanka’s new-ball pacer Dilshan Madushanka for just 10. Slumped to 37-2 in pursuit of a colossal 345-run target, opener Abdullah Shafique and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan each slapped majestic run-chase hundreds from their ends, with the latter of the two even guiding his side past the finishing line with his undefeated knock.

Rizwan belted three sixes and eight boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 131 from just 121 balls, while Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed provided the finishing touches as Pakistan cantered themselves to a win with 10 balls to spare.

The win also concluded the Hyderabad leg of the Pakistan team this 2023 World Cup, as they will now shift their base to Ahmedabad to face arch-rivals and tournament hosts India on October 14.