Pakistan complete record run chase to dim Sri Lanka’s semi hopes

Rex Clementine in Hyderabad

Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign is in shambles. Their bowlers have run out of ideas to contain teams and this could be a painful tournament for the former champions. On Saturday, in Delhi, Sri Lanka won the toss and put South Africa in and conceded the most runs in a World Cup game. On Tuesday, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first and then saw Pakistan completing the highest successful run chase in World Cup history.

Given the fact that they will be playing New Zealand, England and India in the smaller grounds of Bangalore and Bombay, this could be a tough a campaign for their bowlers.

Abdullah Shaifuqe always scores big against Sri Lanka and making his debut, the opening batsman posted 113 off 103 balls but the day belonged to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who battled cramps to post an unbeaten 131 off 121 balls, his career best score.

At 37 for two, with Babar Azam back in the pavilion, it looked to be Sri Lanka’s game, but Abdullah and Babar were unstoppable adding 176 runs for the third wicket that took the game away from them.

Matheesha Pathirana was short on confidence and conceded 90 runs that included 18 wides.

Earlier, a stunning knock by Kusal Mendis enabled Sri Lanka to post their third highest total in World Cups – 344.

No team had successfully chased that many in the history of World Cup with Ireland’s 329 for seven against England in Bangalore being the highest.

It was Sri Lanka’s highest total in World Cups against a full member country. They had posted 398 for five against Kenya in 1996 and 363 for nine against Scotland in 2015 in Hobart.

It was some maniac hitting by Mendis and he’s now the second highest run scorer in this World Cup with 198 runs with Mohammad Rizwan ahead with 199 runs. Sri Lanka would be hoping that he keeps firing in a bid to have a chance to make it to the semis.

In the process, Mendis broke Kumar Sangakkara’s Sri Lankan record for the fastest century in World Cups. Sanga scored a hundred off 70 balls against England in 2015 in Wellington. Mendis reached the milestone in 65 balls.

Mendis’ 122 came off 77 balls with 14 fours and six sixes.

Sadeera Samarawickrama too scored a maiden ODI hundred, but his effort was overshadowed by Mendis.

Nevertheless, it was a crucial knock. Mendis was dismissed in the 29th over and Charith Asalanka soon followed in the 31st. With so many overs left, Sri Lanka were facing the danger of getting bowled out inside 50 overs as it had happened time and again given their long tail.

Sadeera brought up Sri Lanka’s 300 with a superb inside out shot for six off left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz. His hundred came off 82 balls with 11 fours and a six.