Pakistan bids adieu to Hyderabad with heartwarming gesture

Pakistan and Sri Lanka played the best game of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 on Tuesday, October 10, in Hyderabad. Babar Azam and Co. touched down at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, on September 27. Since then, the 'Men in Green' played two warm-up games against New Zealand and Australia at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium before playing World Cup 2023 matches against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

After successfully chasing down 345 against Sri Lanka with six wickets in hand, Pakistan's stay in Hyderabad came to an end. Before leaving the field, the former world champions posed for pictures with the ground staff at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The pitches at the venue have been quite good for batting and Pakistan managed to pick up four crucial points from their two wins against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

The Asian giants will now travel to Ahmedabad to play arch-rivals India on Saturday, October 14, at the largest cricket stadium in the world, Narendra Modi Stadium.

Pakistan break record for highest successful run-chase in ODI World Cup history

Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama scored sparkling centuries to take Sri Lanka to an excellent total of 344/9 after Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to bat first in the ODI World Cup 2023 encounter. Hasan Ali starred with the ball for Pakistan, picking up four wickets for 71 runs in his ten overs. Pakistan didn't get off to a great start in their chase as they lost two of their most consistent batters, Imam-Ul-Haq and Babar Azam inside the first eight overs.

However, Abdullah Shafique, who replaced the out-of-form Fakhar Zaman, registered a brilliant 176-run partnership off 156 balls to help his team get to a position of strength. Shafique was dismissed after scoring a phenomenal century but Rizwan went on to take Pakistan across the line with an unbeaten 131 off 121 balls. Iftikhar Ahmed also chipped in with a crucial 10-ball 22*, as Pakistan won the game with 10 balls to spare. As a result, it turned out to be the highest successful run-chase in ODI World Cup history.