Rizwan 131*, Shafique 113 full report World Cup chase
Pakistan 345 for 4 (Rizwan 131*, Shafique 113, Madushanka 2-60) beat Sri Lanka 344 for 9 (Mendis 122, Samarawickrama 108, Hasan Ali 4-71) by six wickets
Sri Lanka have been served a harsh lesson within the realities of contemporary ODI cricket, as Pakistan hunted down a goal of 345 – the highest-ever chase in a World Cup – with six wickets to spare. Leading their cost have been tons from Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan, which trumped a pair of centuries by Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, to make it two wins from two for Pakistan.
Rizwan, who suffered from at instances seemingly debilitating cramps – the physio got here and checked out him twice – for the final 15 overs or so of the chase, remained unbeaten in the long run on a 121-ball 131. Together with Shafique – who himself recorded the very best rating by a Pakistan debutant at a World Cup along with his 113 off 103 – he had put collectively a third-wicket stand value 176 off simply 156 deliveries.
It was a stand that might break the backbone of the chase, although even then it may not have been sufficient had Rizwan himself not valiantly caught round until the top. He would placed on an additional 95 off 68 with Saud Shakeel, after which 37 off 23 with Iftikhar Ahmed, as Pakistan finally cantered house to a win that may present them an immense confidence enhance forward of Saturday’s large conflict towards India.
As for Sri Lanka, it is two defeats in as many video games, and after conceding over 750 runs throughout two matches there might be rising issues over their bowlers’ skills in dealing with such batter-friendly tracks.
Despite having Maheesh Theekshana again within the facet, Sri Lanka regarded bereft of concepts on easy methods to decide up wickets via the center overs, and even certainly easy methods to stifle the scoring. Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage and Dilshan Madushanka, who have been essentially the most economical of the lot, went for 59, 62 and 60 every, whereas Matheesha Pathirana as soon as extra proved costly being taken for 90 in 9 overs.
Pakistan have been additionally intelligent in guaranteeing they capitalised on Sri Lanka’s must fulfil their fifth bowler quota. While Dasun Shanaka went for simply 28 in his 5 overs, Dhananjaya de Silva was taken for 36 in 4 and Charith Asalanka 10 in his solitary over.
Full report back to observe