Pakistan chased down a world record score of 345 to beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the second one-day international in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
It was the highest successful run chase in World Cup history, beating the previous record of 331 set by India against Sri Lanka in 2009.
The win was also Pakistan’s first against Sri Lanka in a World Cup match, and it gives them a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Pakistan’s batting masterclass
Pakistan’s batting performance was simply stunning. They lost their opening two wickets early on, but Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam steadied the ship with a century partnership.
Zaman was eventually dismissed for 114, but Azam went on to score 122, and he was well supported by Mohammad Rizwan (77) and Abdullah Shafique (69).
The finishing touches were applied by Haris Rauf (35 not out) and Shadab Khan (19 not out), who guided Pakistan to victory with 10 balls to spare.
Zaman and Azam set the tone
The key to Pakistan’s victory was the century partnership between Zaman and Azam. They put on 141 runs for the second wicket, and this gave Pakistan a solid platform to build on.
Zaman was the more aggressive of the two batsmen, but Azam was the anchor. He played a number of important shots, and he never looked in any danger of getting out.
Rizwan and Shafique provided the support
After Zaman and Azam were dismissed, Rizwan and Shafique provided the necessary support to keep Pakistan on track.
Rizwan played a patient innings, but he also played a number of important shots. Shafique, on the other hand, was more aggressive, and he struck a number of boundaries.
Rauf and Shadab finished the job
Rauf and Shadab came in with Pakistan needing 35 runs from the last 30 balls, and they finished the job off in style.
Rauf struck two sixes and a four in his quickfire innings, while Shadab hit a six and a four.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s victory was a remarkable achievement. They chased down a world record score, and they did it in style.
It was a complete team performance, and it showed that Pakistan are one of the favorites to win the World Cup.
Additional thoughts
Here are some additional thoughts on Pakistan’s victory:
- Pakistan’s batting performance was one of the greatest of all time in a World Cup match. They showed great composure and skill to chase down such a big target.
- Zaman and Azam’s century partnership was the key to Pakistan’s success. They put on a solid platform for the rest of the batsmen to build on.
- Rizwan and Shafique provided the necessary support in the middle overs, and they kept Pakistan on track.
- Rauf and Shadab finished the job off in style, and they showed that Pakistan have a number of match-winners in their team.
Pakistan’s victory was a great boost for their confidence, and it puts them in a strong position to win the World Cup.