Mohammad Rizwan battled cramps and back pain on way to a courageous 131 not out off 121 balls as Pakistan pulled off a fascinating six-wicket victory with 10 balls remaining against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
It seemed all over for Pakistan when Babar Azam departed with the total on 37, but Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique, who made 113 off 103 balls, stitched together a patient 176-run partnership for the third wicket to revive hopes of chasing down the 345-run target.
The commanding victory will give Pakistan a lot of confidence ahead of their key clash against India in Ahmedabad on Saturday. This was the highest successful run chase ever in a World Cup.
However, there will be questions raised about Pakistan’s bowling, especially in the middle overs.
Sri Lanka had their chances but dropped catches led to their defeat.
Shafique too played the innings of a lifetime. He watched Imam-ul Haq and Babar fall at the other end but produced a knock that laid the foundation for the victory.
Fakhar Zaman’s lean run turned the tide in his favour and he made most of the opportunity. He soaked in the pressure and showed the character to take the fight to the opposition with some clean hitting. He got to his half-century off 58 balls, largely playing some copy book cricket.
He then took just 39 balls to go from fifty to his maiden hundred which he brought up with a pull off Dilshan Madushanka.
Earlier, sparkling centuries from Kusal Mendis (122 off 77) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (108 off 89) helped Sri Lanka post 344/9. Mendis set the fastest century by a Sri Lankan in a World Cup, off 65 balls. The 28-year-old slammed six sixes and 14 boundaries.
Mendis was taken to a hospital after he suffered cramps following his innings.