‘sometimes it’s acting,’ says Rizwan in response to Simon Doull’s ‘cramp’ question during the PAK vs SL game. In a thrilling match in Hyderabad, Pakistan secured their second consecutive World Cup title by showcasing their outstanding batting ability and successfully chasing down a tough goal of 345 against Sri Lanka. Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique, the batsmen for Pakistan, struck incredible hundreds of runs, which helped their side win by an astounding six wickets.
In the 37th over, Rizwan struck a match-defining blow when he raced down the track and lofted a delivery over long-off for a maximum on the third ball. Shortly after the strike, there was much celebration as Rizwan collapsed to the ground in agony. As Rizwan fell quite animatedly after the six, even Simon Doull, who was providing commentary at the time, found it difficult to contain his laughter. He even suggested that the Pakistan batter “get into the movies.”
After the game, Doull questioned Rizwan about his cramps, to which the wicketkeeper-batter replied, “Sometimes it’s cramps, sometimes it’s acting,” with a sheepish smile.
Thanks to Dilshan Madushanka’s superb bowling, Pakistan recovered from a rough start to reach 37 for 2 in just 7.2 overs. However, in just his fifth ODI match, youthful Abdullah Shafique showed surprising maturity. The pair, along with Mohammad Rizwan, contributed to Pakistan’s comeback, scoring the team’s century in the nineteenth over. After Shafique entered the game in place of Fakhar Zaman, they reached 138 for 2 at the midway point. Shafique reached his fifty off 58 balls.
Shafique scored his first-ever ODI century in the 32nd over, and Rizwan kept racking up runs in the 34th over with two consecutive sixes. Shafique’s outstanding century was eventually halted by a diving catch, but Sri Lanka’s aspirations of a comeback were scuppered. Even with a few late catches and wickets, Saud Shakeel and Rizwan kept pushing Pakistan toward victory. Iftikhar Ahmed eventually hit three fours to give Pakistan the victory.
