In a remarkable display of cricketing prowess, Pakistan achieved a historic feat during one of the World Cup games. On this memorable day, Pakistan successfully chased down a staggering total of 345 runs against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. This remarkable achievement now stands as the highest successful chase in the annals of the men’s ODI World Cup. It’s a feat that eclipses the previous record held by Ireland, who chased down 328 runs against England in the 2011 edition of the tournament in Bangalore.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the fact that it’s only the second time Pakistan has successfully chased a target higher than 345 in ODIs. Their highest-run chase prior to this was 349 runs against Australia in Lahore in 2022. The victory in Hyderabad also etched Pakistan’s name in history as it marked the biggest chase by any team against Sri Lanka, surpassing India’s 321-run chase during the 2012 CB series in Hobart.
Beyond the numbers and records, Pakistan continued its dominance over Sri Lanka at the men’s ODI World Cup, extending an unbeaten streak to eight victories. This accomplishment cements their status as the most dominant head-to-head record in the tournament, surpassing India’s previous 7-0 run against Pakistan.
HIGHLIGHTS : India Vs Australia World Cup Games Match# 5
The match in Hyderabad wasn’t just about team achievements; it was a showcase of individual brilliance as well. Four centurions graced the field on that unforgettable day – Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Abdullah Shafique, and Mohammad Rizwan. This unique occurrence marked the first time in men’s ODI World Cup history that a match featured four individual centuries, and only the third instance in all ODIs. The first instance dates back to the 1998 Lahore ODI between Pakistan and Australia, followed by the 2013 Nagpur ODI between India and Australia.
Speaking of individual achievements, Kusal Mendis set a record of his own by scoring a century in just 65 balls. This makes it the fastest century by a Sri Lankan player at the men’s ODI World Cup and the sixth-fastest overall in the history of the tournament. The previous fastest for Sri Lanka was Kumar Sangakkara’s 70-ball century in 2015 against England.
Abdullah Shafique etched his name in the World Cup history books as he became the first Pakistani player to score a century on debut in this prestigious tournament. The previous highest score on World Cup debut for Pakistan was 82 runs by Mohsin Khan against Sri Lanka in 1983.
The partnership between Rizwan and Shafique, a formidable 176 runs, is the second-highest for Pakistan at the men’s ODI World Cup. The highest partnership still stands at 194 runs, achieved by Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti for the opening wicket against New Zealand in the 1999 semi-final.
As we delve into the bowlers’ performances, it’s impossible not to highlight Matheesha Pathirana’s unfortunate record. He conceded a whopping 91 runs through wides during his 12-match ODI career, including 18 wides in the match against Pakistan in Hyderabad. These wides are by far the most conceded by any bowler since his debut in June, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman coming in second with 34 wides.
In conclusion, the World Cup games witnessed an unforgettable display of cricketing excellence, with Pakistan’s record-breaking chase, individual centuries, and a growing list of remarkable achievements that will be etched in the annals of cricket history.
Pathirana’s Wide Troubles: Since June 2023, Matheesha Pathirana has faced a challenging time with wide deliveries in men’s ODIs. In the span of 12 matches, he bowled an astonishing 57 wide balls, resulting in 91 runs conceded via wides. Notably, eight of these wides turned into five wides, adding to his struggles in maintaining line and length. Alzarri Joseph comes in second on this unfortunate list, with 22 wide balls to his name, which is considerably lower compared to Pathirana’s wide count.
High-Scoring Encounters in Hyderabad: The cricketing action in Hyderabad in 2023 has been nothing short of exhilarating, particularly in terms of high-scoring encounters. In the four ODIs hosted by Hyderabad since June, there have been an impressive total of five occasions where teams posted scores exceeding 320 runs. This showcases the batting-friendly conditions and exciting contests that the city has witnessed. To put this into perspective, only Trent Bridge in England had more such high-scoring totals in a calendar year, recording six instances from five ODIs in 2019. Additionally, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru also had five such instances during the five ODIs hosted in 2011. Hyderabad has clearly emerged as a venue where batsmen have relished the opportunity to pile on the runs, making it a thrilling destination for ODIs in recent times.
