Hyderabad: Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan both notched centuries as Pakistan successfully pursued a challenging 346-run target against Sri Lanka in just 48.2 overs yesterday, setting a new World Cup record for a run chase. The historic World Cup run chase was led by Rizwan’s unbeaten 131 and Shafique’s convincing 113 off 103 balls, leaving the Sri Lankan bowling attack struggling to defend their respectable total.

Shafique, playing in only his fifth ODI, marked his World Cup debut with 113, laced with 10 fours and three sixes.

Rizwan scored his third ODI century off 97 balls with seven fours and two sixes and was still at the crease as Pakistan chased a winning target of 345. Ireland hold the record for the biggest successful World Cup run chase of 328 set against England at the 2011 tournament.

Earlier, swashbuckling Kusal Mendis smashed the fastest century for Sri Lanka, guiding his team to an imposing 344-9 against Pakistan. The 28-year-old cracked a 65-ball century before going on to make 122, his highest score in ODIs and third century. It was an innings spiced with 14 boundaries and half a dozen sixes, leading the charge for Sri Lanka who won the toss and batted. Sadeera Samarawickrama also joined the party with a brilliant maiden hundred, hitting 11 boundaries and two sixes in his 89-ball 108. Mendis twice escaped dropped catches Shaheen Shah Afridi dropped him off his own bowling in the fifth over and then Imam-ul-Haq blundered in the next over again off Shaheen on 18. Mendis completed his 50 off 40 balls with his seventh boundary, lifting Sri Lanka from the early loss of Kusal Perera (nought) in the second over to Hasan Ali.

He put on a 102 with Pathum Nissanka whose 51 came off 61 balls with seven boundaries and a six. Once Nissanka fell to Shadab Khan, Mendis and Samarawickrama unleashed some superb hitting against Pakistan’s pacers and spinners alike, adding 111 for the third wicket. They were savage on fast bowler Haris Rauf, hitting him for two sixes and a boundary in the 21st over. When Shaheen came back for a second spell, Mendis cracked three fours in the 25th over. Hasan Ali was hoisted by Mendis for a six to allow the batsman his third hundred off 65 balls.

It was his first century in thee-and-a-half years but he had made 76 in the opening defeat to South Africa and now has at least five half-centuries in his last seven ODIs.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 11 2023

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