Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan showcased his exceptional skills once again as he scored an unbeaten century in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka. The match took place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, India.
Rizwan’s outstanding innings of 131 runs off 121 balls, including eight boundaries and three sixes, played a crucial role in Pakistan’s victory. Despite battling with cramps, he remained unbeaten throughout the innings.
Mohammad Rizwan’s spectacular knock helped Pakistan secure a six-wicket win against Sri Lanka.
In a game where Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat in favorable batting conditions, they set a challenging target of 344-9 in their allotted 50 overs. Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama were the standout performers for Sri Lanka, both scoring centuries.
Kusal Mendis was the highest scorer with a remarkable 122 runs off 77 balls, including 14 boundaries and six sixes. Sadeera Samarawickrama contributed 108 runs off just 89 balls with 11 fours and two sixes. Opener Pathum Nissanka also made a significant contribution by scoring 51 runs off 61 balls, with seven fours and a six.
Pakistan’s bowler Hasan Ali was the star of the bowling attack, claiming four wickets.
During Pakistan’s chase of the 345-run target, they faced early setbacks as opener Imam-ul-Haq and captain Babar Azam were dismissed cheaply, leaving the team at 37-2. However, Mohammad Rizwan and opener Abdullah Shafique turned the game around by smashing centuries.
Abdullah Shafique’s outstanding performance marked his debut in the Cricket World Cup as he became the first Pakistani batsman to score a century. He scored 113 runs off 103 balls, including 10 boundaries and three sixes.
This victory is a testament to the remarkable partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who have consistently performed well for the Pakistan team.