ODI World Cup 2023 Cricket News

'Kya gazab chase kia'- Fans react as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in ODI World Cup 2023

Batting first Sri Lanka got off to a good start with Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka scoring half-centuries. With Mendis scored the fastest century by a Sri Lanka batter as the wicketkeeper batter scored his maiden World Cup ton in just 65 balls.

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Sarah Andrew
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Pakistan beat Sri Lanka

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets. (Source: Twitter)

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets, on Tuesday, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. With Abdullah Shafique' and Mohammad Rizwan's century, Pakistan made superb comeback to the game. They have got a big confidence boost after chasing the big target off 345 runs. 

Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan. Batting first Sri Lanka got off to a good start with Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka scoring half centuries. With Mendis scored the fastest century by a Sri Lanka batter as the wicketkeeper batter scored his maiden World Cup ton in just 65 balls. Nissanka scored 51 runs and was dismissed by Shadab Khan. Mendis has broken the record of former skipper Kumar Sangakkara who scored 70 balls 117 in 2015 World Cup. 

Mendis scored 122 runs 77 balls, hitting 14 fours and six sixes along with another centurion Sadeera Samarawickrama 108 runs off  89 balls. With the courtesy of double centuries the Islanders posted 344/9 in their 50-overs. Hasan Ali who made a return to the squad picked up four wickets. 

Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan scores big in run chase

Abdullah Shafique showed class and determination on his World Cup debut by scoring his maiden ODI century in a high-pressure run chase against Sri Lanka. He became the fourth Pakistan batter to hit a World Cup hundred against Sri Lanka after Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Saleem Malik. 

Mohammad Rizwan, scored his third ODI century they stitched a vital 176-run stand with opening batter Abdullah Shafique for the fourth wicket. This was the second-highest partnership for Pakistan in the history of ODI World Cups. They chased the target with ten balls remaining. Rizwan was unbeaten at 131 runs.  

Rizwan was the man of the match, "Always proud when you perform like that. It was difficult and when you chase like that, it's always special. Every player in the dressing room had the belief we can chase that. Basically, it's a good track and we decided to calculate the innings. Sometimes cramps, sometimes acting."

Here's how fans reacted: 

Pakistan Sri Lanka