Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama slammed magnificent centuries as Sri Lanka dished out a dominating batting efficiency to put up a difficult 344 for 9 towards Pakistan of their ODI World Cup match right here on Tuesday.
Mendis’ 77-ball 122-run knock was the quickest hundred by a Sri Lankan in World Cup historical past, whereas Samarawickrama picked up his maiden ODI ton with a 89-ball 108 because the islanders posted their highest World Cup whole towards a Full Member.
The 28-year-old Mendis batted with absolute authority, clobbering six maximums and 14 fours. He starred in two 100-plus partnerships with Pathum Nissanka (51) and Samarawickrama to take Sri Lanka throughout the 200-mark within the twenty eighth over.
As soon as Mendis was dismissed, Samarawickrama took the onus and paced his innings beautifully, utilizing his cuts and drives as Sri Lanka stored accumulating runs with ease on the Rajiv Gandhi Worldwide Stadium.
He cracked 11 boundaries and two sixes in his 89-ball knock.
For Pakistan, Hasan Ali (4/71) claimed 4 wickets and Haris Rauf (2/64) snapped two however general it was a poor outing for the bowling unit, particularly Shaheen Afridi (1/66 in 9 overs) and Shadab Khan (1/55 in 8 overs).
Requested to bowl, Pakistan drew first blood with Hasan Ali eradicating Kusal Perera (0) early however Sri Lanka recovered from it shortly with Nissanka and Mendis becoming a member of arms.
Pakistan put up a shoddy bowling efficiency with premier quick bowler Shaheen Afridi struggling together with his line and size. The consequence was Nissanka and Mendis took the bowlers to the cleaners.
Nissanka was again amongst runs after lacking out within the earlier recreation, smashing seven fours and a most in his 61-ball innings. However he gave away his wicket simply after reaching his fifty with Shadab producing a much-needed breakthrough.
The wicket additionally broke the 102-run partnership between Nissanka and Mendis.
Nonetheless, there was no respite for Pakistan as Mendis continued to toy with the bowling. Shadab was punished for bowling quick and extensive, whereas Rauf too was deposited over deep sq. leg when he bowled quick.
Mendis, who’s the second-highest run-getter in ODIs this yr for Sri Lanka, accrued quite a lot of runs within the midwicket area.
Afridi acquired a thrashing from Mendis, slamming the left-arm pacer for 4 boundaries in an over. He then reached the three-figure mark with a flick over deep mid-wicket for a six off Hasan Ali.
With Mendis going hammer and tong, Sri Lanka crossed the 200-mark within the twenty eighth over.
Within the subsequent over, Mendis launched on Hasan Ali with successive sixes earlier than holing out to Imam-ul-Haq, who tried to make amends for dropping him at 19.
Ali struck once more, eradicating Charith Asalanka (3) cheaply to interrupt the momentum, whereas Mohammad Nawaz eliminated Dhananjaya de Silva (25) and Afridi removed Dasun Shanaka (12) to revive Pakistan’s hopes as, between 30 to 35 overs, Pakistan conceded simply 18 runs.
However Samarawickrama held the innings collectively to maintain Sri Lanka on monitor for a 350-plus whole. However with the pitch slowing down, Pakistan picked up two extra wickets to restrict them inside 350 ultimately.
