In a nail-biting One Day International (ODI) World Cup match, Pakistan demonstrated their mettle by staging a remarkable world-record run-chase to secure victory over Sri Lanka. The high-scoring encounter, held on a memorable Tuesday, witnessed Mohammad Rizwan’s heroic battle against severe cramps, ultimately leading his team to a six-wicket triumph.
Rizwan’s exceptional innings was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s remarkable comeback as they chased down a daunting target of 345 set by Sri Lanka. He was ably supported by the young talent, Abdullah Shafique, who notched up his maiden century. Their 176-run partnership for the third wicket not only resurrected Pakistan’s chase but also highlighted their determination to win.
This historic run-chase now stands as the highest successful run-chase in the annals of the World Cup, solidifying Pakistan’s dominance over Sri Lanka in World Cup encounters, with an impressive 8-0 record.
Sri Lanka had set a formidable target by posting a challenging 344/9, largely built upon remarkable centuries by Kusal Mendis (122) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (108). However, Pakistan found themselves struggling at 37/2 within 7.2 overs, with Dilshan Madushanka claiming both early wickets. Despite the early setback, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan steadied the ship, displaying great maturity and resilience.
As Shafique and Rizwan collaborated, their partnership not only reached the 100-run milestone but also added stability to the Pakistani innings. Shafique, playing only his fifth ODI, exhibited composure, and as they reached the halfway point, Pakistan was at 138/2, with Sri Lanka desperately seeking a breakthrough.
Shafique, with his two sixes and assured batting, reached his half-century, setting the stage for Rizwan to accelerate. Rizwan, in an impressive display, produced a flurry of boundaries and achieved his own fifty. Shafique’s maiden ODI century in the 32nd over further bolstered Pakistan’s position.
Rizwan’s determination and courage shone through, even as he battled cramps and discomfort, eventually reaching his century in the 42nd over. He found support in Saud Shakeel (31), who helped bring the required runs down to 62 off 48 balls.
Despite some missed chances by Sri Lanka, Pakistan steadily approached the target. Iftikhar Ahmed’s aggressive batting, with three consecutive boundaries off Matheesha Pathirana, ultimately secured victory for Pakistan.
Sri Lanka’s dominating batting performance, particularly Kusal Mendis’ record-breaking century, and Sadeera Samarawickrama’s maiden ODI ton, set the stage for an intense contest. However, Hasan Ali’s four-wicket haul and Haris Rauf’s two wickets provided a glimpse of control for Pakistan in the latter stages of the Sri Lankan innings.
In the end, Pakistan’s historic run-chase against Sri Lanka added another thrilling chapter to the cricketing world and the World Cup history books.
