Live report - Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Hyderabad

Take a bow, Pakistan, that was one hell of a chase. Win Predictor gave Pakistan a 5% chance when Babar Azam fell, and Sri Lanka pummelled them to all parts in the first half of the first innings. But RIzwan and Shafique took control, and just locked Sri Lanka out of the game completely. No one had ever chased 345 at a World Cup. Now, Pakistan have

Pakistan are in cruise control now.

Three successive balls in a row, Sri Lanka could have had a wicket in that Theekshana over. Three inside out drives, two dropped catches and one that fell just short. Rizwan and Shakeel are lucky to both still be around, and they still get 11 off the over. Everything going Pakistan's way now

He's been - or seemed to be - in some discomfort over the past half hour, but he wasn't interested in going off while there was work to do. Rizwan has brought up a 97-ball 100 without which Pakistan seemed consigned to a big defeat. Thanks in large part to him, they're firm favourites for a world record chase now

Rizwan's been struggling with cramp over the past 10 minutes, and as he struck a gorgeous six over mid-off, his whole body seemed to crumple underneath him. He fell to the ground for the second time in the last few minutes, and he's receiving prolonged treatment here. He's inching towards a hundred, and he's standing up now, looks like he'll continue. He's inching towards a hundred now

He will depart now, but not before he's played the innings of a lifetime. He watched Imam and Babar fall at the other end, and in just his 9th List A game, produced a knock that should see Pakistan clinch victory. Though it's Pakistan, you never know.

Sri Lanka, though, have their own Gary Pratt moment, though that's unfair on Dushan Hemantha, who's actually in the squad. He takes a diving stunner at backward point to get rid of Shafique, and breathe life into this Sri Lankan defence of what would be a world-record chase.

Until he got to a half-century, Abdullah Shafique was doing it his way.

Fakhar Zaman’s lean run turned the tide in his favour perhaps a tad earlier than expected. It’s debatable if Fakhar deserved to be dropped this soon. But there’s also this argument for giving a youngster in his maiden World Cup at least one outing instead of straightaway putting him into a cauldron in front of 120,000 fans against India.

This is perhaps what turned the ride Shafique’s way, and when you’re straightaway facing the heat after two batting pillars - Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam - have been dismissed early in a chase of 345, there’s nowhere to hide. Shafique had to not just soak in pressure but also keep runs chugging along to not fall too far behind the asking rate.

Shafique got to his half-century off 58 balls, playing largely some copy book cricket; nothing flashy, perhaps even unremarkable. But in that lay the foundation of a knock he can look back on with great fondness. Among the hallmarks was his manner of countering conditions, Sri Lanka’s spinners and a sensational middle-to-late-overs acceleration that Pakistan have backed themselves to execute.

It has been sharp contrast to Sri Lanka’s gung-ho approach that eventually tapered down to a trickle as their innings ended. Remarkably, for a side that made 344, their highest World Cup total, the palpable sentiment at the break was one of lost opportunity to get 370, perhaps 380.

That sentiment increasingly looks true. Shafique got to his half-century off 59 deliveries in the 20th over. Pakistan were 110 for 2, the asking rate having nudged closer to eight an over. Perhaps that was his take-off point. The first ball he faced off the next over, by Dhananjaya de Silva, was launched over long-on. There’s been no stopping him since.

He took just 39 balls to go from fifty to a hundred that he brought up with a bludgeoned pull off Dilshan Madushanka. There was pin-drop silence when Babar Azam was strangled down leg; there’s boisterous energy and wild cheering for Shafique and Rizwan as Pakistan have gotten within hitting range.

When he got to a half-century, the overarching sentiment was: okay, you’ve done it your way. Now, you have to go the ‘Pakistan Way’ to scale down the mountain of runs. Could he do it? Shafique says, ‘Yes I can.’ It’s been an incredible knock.

In his fifth innings, Abdullah Shafique brings up his first ODI hundred. Called up to replace someone with a legacy as huge as Fakhar Shafique has stepped up in style. No Pakistani has ever managed a 100 on World Cup debut, well they hadn't, until now. The game is alive, and Pakistan are slowly moving towards a position of dominance.

And Rizwan's just hit a six off a no-ball, with a free hit coming up

Pakistan are in chase-mode now, and it almost seems like they have the crowd's backing. Rizwan is finding his best form; there was an exquisite inside out drive off Wellalage for four, and another lovely cut shot behind point brought up the half-century. At the other end, Shafique has smashed Wellalage for a straight six, and he's into the 90s

These two are rollicking along now, and the 100-partnership between the two is up. Dare I say an actual run chase is about to break out in Hyderabad? Shafique and Rizwan look comfortable at the crease, and the bowlers - Wellalage aside - don't at the moment pack much of a threat. Heavily slanted in Sri Lanka's favour at the halfway mark, but done and dusted? Not at all

Pakistan are still well behind in this game, but Shafique and RIzwan have steadied the ship. Sri Lanka were smelling blood after getting rid of Babar Azam, but these two have kept the scoreboard ticking, and restored some stability to the innings. They will need to go on for a long, long time if they are to give themselves a shot at chasing this down, but at least they've laid down a foundation stone.

This is not a drill, Babar Azam is done and dusted here. And oh my, that is a soft, soft way to go. Madushanka has been off with his line, regularly sending it down the legside, and this was just one of those deliveries. Babar wafted at it feebly, and the ball kisses the bat on its journey through to the keeper. Sri Lanka are ecstatic, and while there's disappointment on the faces of part of the crowd, there's huge celebrations, too!

Pakistan are the only side among the 22 teams in 2023 to not hit a six inside the first 10 overs in ODIs. This is the 17th ODI Pakistan are batting in, and it's been another relatively sedate start

The pull shot has been a problem for Imam recently, and he was nowhere near getting on top of this one. It was a touch too wide for that shot to be played, but when he skied it, fine leg still had a lot of work to do. He does it brilliantly, plucking it a few inches off the ground to send Imam on his way

A little nudge towards the onside, and that brings up 3,000 ODI runs for the Pakistan opener. He's been out of form of late, slightly, but the numbers are stellar. Only Hashim Amla has ever reached this milestone in fewer innings than Imam's 67 (57). Imam has taken exactly as many innings as his great opening mate Fakhar Zaman to get there (Shai Hope is also tied at this number). Babar Azam took one more innings to reach 3,000 himself. Stellar half-decade or so for the Pakistan opener.

He bowls those wily inswingers as Pakistan get off to a steady enough start. Both were off the mark straightaway and they get six off the first over.

Meanwhile, note Sadeera is keeping in place of Mendis. One centurion swapping for another

Wondering how Samarawickrama has ransacked his way to a hundred here, In between the chaos of Kusal Mendis and the calm of Pathum Nissanka. That partnership, you felt, was the perfect fire-ice combination that launched Sri Lanka into orbit. And then cooly comes Samarawickrama and says, ‘hold my beer, bro.’ Its been nonchalance of the top drawer. The time he’s had while facing Haris Rauf, the alertness to spot that dreaded Shaheen Afridi slower one that has spelt doom to some of the best batters - it’s been quite an exhibition. In between, there have been a couple of standout shots. Like the one he stepped out to open up the off side and then loft over extra cover. If there’s anyone in India who can claim a patent to that shot, it’s got to be VVS Laxman. Hyderabad is Laxman territory. Maybe it’s just the air. Or, the biryani? Incredible stuff either way.

Sri Lanka have built a great foundation, but over the last few overs, Pakistan are ensuring they don't put up an insurmountable first innings score

He never really got going, though there were signs Sri Lanka were recovering the momentum thanks to Samarawickrama at the other end. de Silva charged at Nawaz - who has had a rough day - but never quite got to the pitch, and Shaheen Afridi makes no mistake at long-off

Between the start of the 30th over and the end of the 35th, Pakistan conceded just 18 runs, and just one boundary.

There has been a lull in proceedings from Sri Lanka's point of view. A couple of wickets have fallen, and de Silva hasn't quite got going properly. But Sadeera had put in the work early, and has now brought up a 43-ball half-century. SL will look to get going once more

What a catch, but more importantly, WHAT AN INNINGS! Kusal Mendis smashes Hasan Ali for two sixes and looks for all the world like he's going to make it three, but HAli's slower ball means it goes higher than it does long, and IMam gathers underneath it at long on to take a splendid diving catch. No one will have wanted to get Mendis out more than Imam, who dropped him so, so early, an instant that will likely be a sliding doors moment im this game. But after 122 breathtaking runs in 77 breathless balls, Kusal Mendis has departed

What an innings, and what a way to get there. Batting on 94, he moves across and lobs Hasan Ali over wide long-on for a caressed six to bring up a creamy, classy century. It's taken him just 65 balls, and no Sri Lankan has ever got there faster in a World Cup. Imam will rue that dropped catch, but this is a World Cup classic of a hundred.

The 20 runs Haris Rauf conceded in that over are the most he has conceded in an ODI.

The 100 is up for Sri Lanka, and so is the unbeaten 50 for Pathum Nissanka - in 58 deliveries. Kusal Mendis, meanwhile, has brought up his own undefeated half-century in 39 balls with a lovely loft over cow corner off Mohammad Nawaz. And with that, the pair bring up the unbeaten 100-partnership.

Oh, and undefeated no more, neither the partnership nor Pathum Nissanka! He's fallen to Shadab Khan, slashing one straight to backward point after a 61-ball 51, and Pakistan have a much, much-needed breakthrough

They've shaken off the early loss of Perera, and are negotiating Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz wonderfully. Haris' pace has been high, consistently in the mid-to-high 140s, but Nissanka in particularly has timed him beautifully, using his pace against him. He's picked up three boundaries in his first two overs, while Nawaz continues to be milked with ease. Surely Shadab's introduction isn't far away.

Meanwhile, Shashank, our man in Hyderabada, has sent in this rather wholesome tale.

The fandom for Babar continues to grow bigger and bigger in Hyderabad. Four nights ago, 14-year old Alaysha from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, travelled 850km to Hyderabad with her parents to watch him play against Netherlands. Such was her craze that the family was looking to stay at Park Hyatt, where Pakistan are staying at, but were forced to stay elsewhere after learning of the exorbitant price they’d have to pay for a night’s stay. On match day, she lined up at the entrace sporting a big Babar cut out that elicited a wave and acknowledgment from members of the Pakistan team. Her dream is to work in cricket, so that one day, she can meet Babar.

Shaheen has struggled big-time today, and is now getting his knee treated by the magic spray. He's struggled with his radar, bowling three wides in his second over, and resorting to coming around the wicket, where Kusal Mendis sliced him for six over third man. Not an ideal start from Pakistan, and particularly their premier fast bowler.

Step aside Shaheen, it's Hasan Ali with the first over heroics now! After a probing over from Shaheen to Nissanka, Kusal Perera slashed at the fourth ball of Hasan's first over. It was a touch too close to cut. He gets an outside edge and Pakistan draw first blood

Maheesh Theekshana is fit, and so he comes in for Kasun Rajitha. Dasun Shanaka says his side had a couple of practice sessions to rectify all that went wrong against South Africa.

Babar Azam says the pitch looks dry, and almost seems to suggest he would have bowled first anyway. Pakistan have made one change, with Abdullah Shafique coming in for the out-of-form Fakhar Zaman.

Pakistan: 1 Imam-ul-Haq 2 Abdullah Shafique 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Mohammad Rizwan(wk) 5 Saud Shakeel 6 Iftikhar Ahmed 7 Shadab Khan 8 Mohammad Nawaz 9 Hasan Ali 10 Shaheen Afridi 11 Haris Rauf

Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka 2 Kusal Perera 3 Kusal Mendis 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama 5 Charith Asalanka 6 Dhananjaya de Silva 7 Dasun Shanaka 8 Dunith Wellalage 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Maheesh Pathirana11 Dilshan Madushanka