‘Bahut tej ho rahe hai’ – Fans react to Pakistan’s win over Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in ODI World Cup 2023
Babar Azam’s Pakistan team chased down the steep 345-run score set by Sri Lanka. Pakistan won the game by six wickets in the 8th game of ODI World Cup 2023 played on Tuesday in Hyderabad.
For Sri Lanka, this was their second loss of the tournament after their huge loss on Saturday against South Africa. Despite centuries from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama the islanders lost thanks to their shoddy bowling effort.
Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat first on a hot day in Hyderabad. Pakistan came into the game after winning their opening game of the ODI World Cup 2023 against the Netherlands. Both the teams made one change each to their playing XIs with Fakhar Zaman making way for Abdullah Shafique.
Pakistan coast home to win thanks to twin centuries in huge chase
Chasing 345 to win, Pakistan was in trouble at 37/2 in the 8th over after the early fall of Imam Ul Haq and Babar Azam. Dilshan Madushanka got both batters to give the Lankans early control of the game.
Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan then added 176 runs for the third wicket. The stand came in 155 balls as both the batters played some delightful shots. Shafique playing his fifth ODI scored his first century in ODI Cricket. The 23-year-old was out for 113 runs from 103 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes in his knock.
Mohammad Rizwan though kept going despite cramping badly during his innings. The Pakistani wicket-keeper scored his third ODI ton for Pakistan on Tuesday. Rizwan was not out on 134 as he got good support from Saud Shakeel (30) and Iftikhar Ahmed ( ). With this win Pakistan has won its second game of ODI World Cup 2023.
Earlier in the day Sri Lanka batted well to post 344/9 from their 50 overs. Pathum Nissanka took over the scoring after Kusal Perera was out for yet another low score. Nissanka scored 51 runs before falling to Shadab Khan with his knock containing 7 fours and one six.
Kusal Mendis then regaled the Hyderabad crowd with some dazzling strokeplay as he scripted history. The right-hander scored the fastest World Cup ton for Sri Lanka in just 65 balls. Mendis was out for 77-ball 122 when he tried to hit Hasan Ali for a third successive six.
Sadeera Samarawickrama matched Mendis’ stroke for stroke as he scored 108 runs which came off 89 balls. The youngster hit 11 fours and 2 sixes in his knock to put the Pakistani bowlers under pressure.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
HISTORY IN WORLD CUP….!!!!
PAKISTAN CHASE DOWN HIGHEST TOTAL EVER IN 48 YEAR OLD WORLD CUP. pic.twitter.com/qmSAJWxyWO
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 10, 2023
Bohot tej ho rahe ha
— Himesh Pandya (@HimeshPandya14) October 10, 2023
Pathirana needs someone like dhoni to mentor him or to get the best out of him.
— Need for Speed | AMR24 🏎️ (@Jaags3636) October 10, 2023
Pakistan won clash of Asian minnows
— Shubman Gang (@ShubmanGang) October 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/OfclMaula/status/1711787091510624458
Matheesha Pathirana will be highest run 'getter' of this world cup if he plays all 9 games & bowls his full quota of 10 overs #SLvPAK
CSK fans hyped him so much.
But he seems too inexperienced for intl cricket at the moment— DONTOMJAMES (@DONTOMJAMES) October 10, 2023
Who is responsible for this ??
— Utkarsh (@utkarshh_tweet) October 10, 2023
It will be broken in the same event. Bengaluru and Mumbai are yet to host game. These two pitches are ready to serve us 360 plus run chase.
— CHARLIE (@CharlieGulshan) October 10, 2023