SL 344/9 | RR 6.90
It’s the 6th day of the ICC Men’s Cricket Worldcup 2023, India with 2nd match of the day on the card. The Pakistani Eagles are taking on Sri Lanka in the game No. 8 of the group stages of ICC World Cup 23. PAK have already taken down Dutch ath the same venue a couple of days ago in their opening match of CWC23. Whereas, SL are coming from a demoralised loss at the hands of South Africa.
Dasun Shanaka, SL skipper, opts to bat first against the team green and eyeing at setting huge total up front. It’s a challenge for Pakistani bowlers to restrict SL under 300 too.
PAK Playing XI against SL in ICC CWC23
1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Shaheen Afridi, 11 Haris Rauf
SL Playing XI against PAK in ICC CWC23
1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Matheesha Pathirana, 11 Dilshan Madushanka
Both teams make one change in their playing XI for todays match at Hyderabad. Pakistan leave out off-color Fakhar for Abdullah Shafique whereas Theekshana finds a place in playing XI in place of Rajitha.
Pathum Nisanka and Kusal Parera will be opening the innings for SL. WHile, Shaheen and Hassan will try taking down the Sri Lankan openers. Hassan strikes early in this ICC CWC match 8 at Hyderabad. But Nissanka and Mendis stand tall for their 2nd wicket partnership. During the first power play SL post 58 for 1 with nine 4s and two 6s.
The 2nd power play also seems favouring SL as first Nissanka and then Mendis reach their half centuries int their 2nd match of the ICC CWC23. Striking at 86.2 Nissanka manages seven 4s and one 6. Whereas, K Mendis brings up his half century striking at 125 with he help of seven 4s and two 6s.
Nissanka-Mendis looking solid when Shadab provides a crucial breakthrough. The 102-runs stand is broken with Nissanka returns to the pavilion after scoring 51 off 61 in the 18th over. Two-down Samarawickrama comes to the crease when SL are 107 for 2 in 17.2. SL add 69 for the loss of 1 from 11-20.
At the end of the 1st half of the innings, SL are feeling the heat in the middle. They have posted 181 for 2 at the end of the 25 with the runrate of 7.24. K Mendis raises bat as he completes his 3rd ODI century aoff 65 balls. His 65-balls ton is the fastest for SL in ICC CWC as he goes past Kumar Sangakara who held the record for fastest 100 in 70 balls and 6th fastest all time for Sl in ODIs. His 100 includes thirteen 4s and four 6s and striking at almost 154.
111-runs stand for the thrid wickets is broken by Hasan Ali who decieves Mendis with his slower delivery. Mendis’ 122 off 77 includes fourteen 4s and six 6s. With his 122 in this innings and 76 against NZ in the previous match makes him the top run scorer of the Tournament. SL are 218 for 3 at the end of 29. SL have been unstoppable during 21-30 as they collect 102 at 10.20 for the loss of 1 wicket.
Hassan Ali strikes again as the new man at crease Asalanka goes for just 1 off 3. Hassan takes his 3 as thick edge to Rizwan’s gloves sends left-haded batter back to the dugout. It’s double strike for Hassan as SL are 4 down in 31.
Wickets are tumbling for Sl but Samarawickarama holds his nerves in this contest of ICC CWC 2023. He completes his half century in 43 striking at above 116. The 2nd power play is done with SL on top of the game. From 31-40 they add 54 for the loss of 1 wicket. SL manage 225 in the second power play at the rate of 7.5 losing 3 wickets during the power play.
The final power play 41-50 begins with Nawaz picking his first of the evening. D de Silva dances down the track and heaps the ball over long-off where Afridi pockets it with ease. He goes for 25 off 34 and SL are 294 for 5 in 41.1.
Sadeera Samarawickrama reaches to his maiden ODI ton off just 82 striking at 122. His first century of the CWC23 smashing ten 4s and two 6s. Shaheen strikes in his 8th over as the skipper tries to hit over the long-off but miss hit lands into Babar’s hand. Shaheen takes wicket in consecutive 18 matches which is a record for Pakistan.
Hassan Ali takes his 4th of the evening conceding 71 on the last ball of his final over. This time centurion goes after scoring 108 off 89 stiriking the ball at 121.34 with the help of eleven 4s and two 6s.
SL add 62 more in the final power play from 41-50 for the loss of 5 wickets. SL put 344 on the board for Pakistan to chase at 6.90. Samarawickrama, Mendis and Nissanka put up a great fight against both spin and pace attack with their 108, 122 and 51 respective. They hit thirty-six 4s and nine 6s in the entire 1st innings of ICC Men’s CWC23.
Pakistani pacers collectively bowl 29 overs in the 1st innings against SL conceding 197 runs at 6.79 and picking up 7 wickets averaging 28.14. 4 for Hassan, 1 for Shaheen and 2 for Rauf. Meanwhile the spin attack get 21 overs to bowl out of 50 in the 1st innings against SL conceding 139 at 6.62 and picking up 2 wickets averaging 69.5. Pakistan leak runs in bowling and fielding despite couple of drop catches.
The pick of the bowler is Hassan with his 4 wickets whereas Mendis and Samarawickrama stand tall with their quick centuries.
