The Pakistan Cricket Team recorded the highest run chase in World Cup history. They achieved this feat by chasing down 345 against Sri Lanka played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on 10th October 2023.
It was a superb batting paradise as Sri Lanka posted 344 for 9 in 50 overs thanks to centuries by Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samawickrama. Both put on an excellent display of batting as they kept piling runs in quick time. Lankan batters could hit big shots in the death overs and lost wickets at regular intervals to halt at 344 for 9.
Chasing down 345 runs to win, it was not an ideal start as they lost 2 early wickets of Imam and Babar Azam. Mohammed Rizwan and Shafique showed intent putting pressure on Lankan bowlers and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Both Pakistan batters made the batting look easy. Shafique replaced out-of-form Fakhar Zaman for today’s match.
Shafique and Rizwan completed their half-centuries off 58 deliveries. Both batters kept the scoreboard ticking making life tough for the Lankan bowlers. Shafique completed his century off 97 deliveries and kept the momentum going. He was eventually dismissed with a stunning catch by Dushmanta Hemantha. Shafique and Rizwan added 176 runs for the 3rd wicket.
🚨RECORDS-TUMBLING NIGHT IN HYDERABAD
Highest successful chase in a @cricketworldcup match ✅
Highest successful run-chase for 🇵🇰 in an away game ✅#PAKvSL | #DattKePakistani | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/5GIcUAdXNx— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 10, 2023
Rizwan was struggling with cramps, but he played the spinners and pacers brilliantly. Saud Shakeel also played according to the situation and hit bad deliveries away from boundaries. Rizwan completed a well-complied century off 97 balls. Shakeel and Rizwan added 91 runs for the 4th wicket.
Rizwan kept his calm and displayed a brilliant batting display. Iftikhar Ahmed showed his class making sure that Pakistan chased down this target easily. Rizwan remained not out on 131 off 121 deliveries with 8 fours and 3 sixes. It was a remarkable knock by the wicketkeeper batter and helped Pakistan chase down the record total in World Cup history since its inception in 1975.
Previous Highest Run Chase in World Cups
Before this record run chase, Ireland became the first team to successfully chase down 328 against England in the 2011 edition played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Ireland won that match by 3 wickets on a high-scoring venue. It was superb batting by Ireland batters with Kevin O Brian scoring the fastest century in the World Cup century off 50 deliveries.
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