More from this ICC World Cup 2023
Sri Lanka must address swiftly to keep their already slim semi-final hopes alive. The best part was they never gave up at any point in the match, especially the batting; they were back on every time you wanted to give up and switch the channel! They were on target and scored over 300+ in their last two matches, which is quite an improvement from Asia Cup’s final, but I guess they always fell short.
Charith Asalanka, who had kept Sri Lanka in the game against South Africa, nicked one through just eight balls later. This was followed by a five-over period in which just 18 runs were scored, which stifled their momentum; overs 30-40 would bring 54 runs in total.
Pakistan’s Strategy: Pakistan wisely capitalized on Sri Lanka’s need to fulfill their fifth bowler quota, ultimately putting pressure on the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
As for Sri Lanka, it’s two defeats in as many games, and after conceding over 750 runs across two matches, there will be growing concerns over their bowlers’ abilities in handling such batter-friendly tracks.
Pakistan were also clever in ensuring they capitalized on Sri Lanka’s need to fulfill their fifth bowler quota. While Dasun Shanaka went for just 28 in his five overs, Dhananjaya de Silva was taken for 36 in four, and Charith Asalanka 10 in his solitary over.
Sri Lanka’s Bowling Struggles: Sri Lanka’s bowlers, including Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, and Dilshan Madushanka, struggled to pick up wickets and contain the scoring on a batter-friendly track.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Promise: Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama’s centuries and their 111-run partnership demonstrated Sri Lanka’s potential in batting, but they fell short of setting a higher target, and Sri Lanka’s late scoring issues were exposed.
Across their 50 overs, scarcely did the scoring rate drop below seven an over – for periods even touching 7.5. Much of that was down to Mendis, who carried on from where he had left off against South Africa – well, not exactly, he struck at only 158.44 this time out – as he almost single-handedly swamped an unusually blunt Pakistan attack.
Mohammad Rizwan’s Grit: Mohammad Rizwan battled cramps during the latter part of the chase but remained unbeaten with a brilliant 121-ball 131, steering Pakistan to victory.
Rizwan, who suffered from, at times, seemingly debilitating cramps – the physio came and looked at him twice – for the last 15 overs or so of the chase, remained unbeaten in the end on a 121-ball 131.
Abdullah Shafique’s Debut Heroics: Abdullah Shafique’s century (113 off 103 balls) made him the highest-scoring debutant for Pakistan in the World Cup, playing a crucial role in the chase.
He recorded the highest score by a Pakistan debutant at a World Cup with his 113 off 103 – he had put together a third-wicket stand worth 176 off just 156 deliveries.
Shafique’s control percentage of 91% told a story, as he rarely gave the Sri Lankan bowlers a sniff, pouncing on anything short and unafraid to use his feet when necessary. It would take an absolute scorcher at backward point by substitute Dushan Hemantha, in for Kusal Mendis, who was off the field with severe cramps, to get rid of him.
Pakistan’s Historic Chase: Pakistan successfully chased a target of 345 runs, the highest-ever chase in a World Cup, to secure a remarkable victory.
Sri Lanka were served a harsh lesson in the realities of modern ODI cricket as Pakistan hunted down a target of 345 – the highest-ever chase in a World Cup – with six wickets to spare. Tons from Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan led their charge, which trumped a pair of centuries by Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama to make it two wins from two for Pakistan.
How do you come back from back-to-back losses? I mean, their last few matches have been traumatic; they fought back, sure, but since that Asian Cup debacle in the finals, Sri Lanka have
Lost to Bangladesh by 7 wickets in a warm-up match
Lost to Afghanistan by 6 wickets
Lost to SA by 102 runs
And now Pak by 6 wickets
To their credit, they were on target and scored over 300+ scores in their last two matches, which is quite an improvement from Asia Cup’s final, but they always fell short, I guess.
More from this ICC World Cup 2023
