Pakistan team bids farewell to Hyderabad, Babar Azam gifts his jersey to ground staff and team clicks with them.
In a thrilling match that took place on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Pakistan and Sri Lanka delivered an electrifying performance during the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. The stage was set when the Pakistani cricket team, led by the Babar Azam, arrived in Hyderabad on September 27. Their journey commenced with two warm-up matches against New Zealand and Australia at the same venue, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, before they embarked on their World Cup campaign, facing off against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s stay in Hyderabad culminated with a memorable encounter against Sri Lanka, where they successfully chased down a formidable target of 345 runs, ultimately securing a victory with six wickets in hand. Before bidding adieu to the stadium, Men in Green , took a moment to capture the memories in photographs with the dedicated ground staff at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The pitches at this venue have consistently favored the batsmen, and Pakistan managed to accrue four valuable points from their two wins against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. Also Pakistan captain gifted his jersey to the ground staff, this heartwarming gesture was liked by everyone.
The clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka saw stellar performances from both sides. Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama’s magnificent centuries propelled Sri Lanka to a formidable total of 344/9. Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka, won the toss and chose to bat first in this high-stakes encounter. However, Hasan Ali emerged as Pakistan’s bowling hero, scalping four wickets while conceding 71 runs in his ten overs. Despite losing early wickets, Pakistan exhibited resilience and determination throughout their innings.
In the early stages of their chase, Pakistan faced adversity as they lost two key wickets, those of Imam-Ul-Haq and Babar Azam, within the initial eight overs. Nevertheless, Abdullah Shafique, who replaced the out-of-form Fakhar Zaman, rose to the occasion, forging a remarkable 176-run partnership off just 156 balls. Shafique’s contribution was nothing short of spectacular, but his innings eventually came to an end after reaching a phenomenal century. Yet, the heroics were far from over as Mohammad Rizwan stepped up to the plate, delivering an unbeaten 131 off 121 balls to steer Pakistan to victory. Iftikhar Ahmed’s 10-ball 22* proved invaluable in the final moments, ultimately securing Pakistan’s win with 10 balls to spare.
This thrilling encounter etched its name in the annals of ODI World Cup history as the highest successful run-chase, showcasing the skill, tenacity, and spirit of both teams. The clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the standout moments of the ODI World Cup 2023.