Tuesday’s Sri Lankan hitters destroyed the Green Shirts’ bowling lineup, causing Pakistan’s national team to concede the biggest total in World Cup history. The result was a fairly unwelcome record for the Green Shirts.
Due to centuries by Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sri Lanka set Pakistan a lofty target of 345 runs during the eighth match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium International, Hyderabad.
The Islanders scored 344 runs, surpassing India’s World Cup 2019 innings of 336 runs to become the team with the most runs scored against Pakistan.
The Lankan batters did not buckle under the pressure despite losing an early wicket; opener Pathum Nissanka reached his half-century by making 51 off 61 balls while hitting eight boundaries.
However, Mendis and Samarawickrama took matters into their own hands and decided to elevate their batting show to a completely new level when Nissanka was dismissed by Shadab Khan.
As the failing Pakistani bowling line struggled, Mendis, a 28-year-old who was hitting boundaries all over the place, became a clear problem.
His knock included 14 hours and six sixes, and he scored 122 runs in just 77 deliveries for an outstanding strike rate of 158.44.
Samarawickrama continued to build on the momentum after Mendis lost his wicket and reached his century, making 108 runs in 89 balls with 13 boundaries.
Hasan Ali was the Green Shirts’ most expensive bowler, giving up 71 runs in 10 overs, but he also provided the Men in Green with crucial breakthroughs by taking four crucial wickets.
Mendis, Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Kusal Perera were all dismissed by Hasan.
With 66 runs in nine overs and one wicket, veteran pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was the second most costly pacer for the bowling side.
The Green Shirts have never chased a target of 265 runs or more in World Cup history, thus Pakistan has a massive task.
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