Sri Lanka chose to bat first against Pakistan after winning the toss after suffering a difficult defeat while chasing against South Africa. Sri Lanka scored 344 runs against Pakistan. Here is a recap of the first innings.
Sri Lanka in control of powerplay despite losing Perera early
As Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera for a four-ball duck in the second over, Hasan Ali struck with just his fourth ball of the game. Sri Lanka appeared to be in control of their batting despite the early wicket. Pakistan missed a few opportunities, which could have led to Kusal Mendis’ early dismissal. Mendis smacked a full-length ball straight at Shaheen Afridi in the fifth over. The ball hit the left-arm pacer in the shin, but he was too low on his follow through to make a catch. In the seventh over, Imam-ul-Haq dropped Mendis at backward point. In comparison to the opportunity Shaheen missed with his own bowling, this one was much easier. Mendis gave Imam a chance at face height with a square drive, but the Pakistani opener missed the catch. In the eighth over, Pathum Nissanka blasted a four and a six. Sri Lanka scored 58 runs during the powerplay for the loss of just one wicket.
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Sri Lanka immediately boosted their run rate after the powerplay by scoring 30 runs in the following four overs. When Shadab Khan joined the attack in the 16th over, immediately following the opening drink break, Kusal Mendis welcomed him with a six on just the fourth ball of his debut over. In the subsequent over, Nissanka and Mendis each reached their respective half-centuries. Mendis just needed 40 balls to achieve the half-century mark, compared to Nissanka’s 58 balls. In the following over, Shadab struck out Nissanka.
Pakistan in trouble
In his subsequent over, Shadab gave up 12 runs as Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama both hit the leg-spinner for boundaries. In the following over, Haris Rauf went for runs as well and gave up 20 runs after being hit by both batters for a pair of sixes and a four. Runs started to seep from both ends and then Babar Azam brought in Shaheen Afridi, his most lethal weapon. Shaheen also received the same treatment. Kusal Mendis hit three consecutive boundaries in the opening over of his new spell to turn it into a 14-run over.
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Kusal Mendis hits fastest century for Sri Lankan in CWC
Hasan Ali replaced Shaheen just after one over and was hit for a six on the first ball of his spell. Kusal Mendis completed his century with a six in just 65 balls. The score was also the highest Sri Lankan had ever achieved against Pakistan in a World Cup. The 65-ball century by Kusal Mendis ranks as the sixth-fastest World Cup century. Hasan Ali removed the wicket-keeper batsman in the 29th over. He hit Hasan Ali’s bowling for two straight sixes, and his attempt at the third ultimately proved fatal. Imam, who earlier in the inning dropped Mendis, took the catch to dismiss the centurion. His 122 is the second-highest World Cup score by a Sri Lankan wicketkeeper, after only Kumar Sangakkara’s 124 against Scotland in 2015.
In his subsequent over, Hasan Ali removed Charith Asalanka, the replacement batter, allowing Pakistan to regain control of the situation. The Pakistani bowlers put together a string of calm overs, only allowing 18 runs in overs 31 through 35. Samarawickrama scored his half-century in 43 balls during this time. Every time they were used, Shadab and Mohammad Nawaz continued to be pricey. In the 37th over, Pakistan lost a review after contesting a catch-behind decision against Dhananjaya de Silva. Keeper Rizwan was not interested in the review but bowler Shaheen persuaded Shadab to go for the review (Babar was not on the field so Shadab was the man in charge).
Sri Lanka looks set for a huge total going into death overs
Sri Lanka scored 283 runs for the cost of four wickets after 40 overs. As Samarawickrama blasted two boundaries, Hasan Ali entered the attack and allowed 11 runs in his over. De Silva, who came down the track to loft it over the boundary, was dismissed by Nawaz from the other end. After three quiet overs with just six runs, Samarawickrama attacked Nawaz by smashing a six to enter the nineties. In the 44th over, 11 runs were given up by Nawaz. Samarawickrama needed just 82 balls to finish his maiden century. Shaheen picked up his first wicket of the match by dismissing Dasun Shanaka in the 47th over. Hasan Ali picked up his fourth wicket by dismissing the centurion, Samarawickrama in the 48th over.
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