Centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique helped Pakistan record the highest-ever run-chase in the men’s ODI World Cup as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets.
First, centuries from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama propelled Sri Lanka’s total to 344 in Hyderabad. However, on a good pitch and with dew coming on, Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique found it comfortable to bat and rack up easy runs; they were aided by indiscipline from the Sri Lankan bowlers and fielders.
Despite Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam getting out cheaply, Rizwan and Shafique formed a partnership of 176 (156), which Pakistan in firm control of the chase, and then a partnership of 95 (68) between Rizwan and Shakeel all but sealed the game for Pakistan.
There was a hilarious period of play during Pakistan’s innings when Mohammad Rizwan was cramping. The play was held up multiple times and the Pakistan physio attended Rizwan who was dealing with cramps. But sometimes it felt he was going overboard in expressing his pain.
Commentators Simon Doull and Matthew Hayden even trolled Rizwan for his antics. Hayden went on to say that Rizwan should “get into the movies”!
‘Sometimes it’s cramps, sometimes it’s acting’: Mohammad Rizwan
It seems that even Rizwan realized he was doing a bit too much in his expressing of his cramp pains. Later in the post-match presentation, when Simon Doull asked Rizwan about his cramps, the wicket-keeper had a hilarious response.
“Sometimes it’s cramps, sometimes it’s acting,” Mohammad Rizwan said, sending Simon Doull into a burst of laughter, and also vindicating his suspicion that Rizwan was acting.
Watch the video here:
Haha 😂 sometimes cramp sometimes acting ..
Some likes for funny rizwan.#SLvsPAK pic.twitter.com/9ajiuglObL— Cric247 (@ArafRayees) October 10, 2023
Further, speaking about his knock, Rizwan said: “Always a proud moment for me whenever you perform for your country. I am speechless at this moment. It was difficult. The thing was that after the bowling innings we went back and everyone was confident. Unluckily, they got Babar Azam early but we got good partnerships after that. It’s a good track, was supporting to us. I told Shafique to take it step by step.”
Pakistan now have two wins in two games. Their next match is against India, on Saturday, in Ahmedabad.
