The 8th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 was played between Babar Azam-led Pakistan National Cricket Team and Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka National Cricket Team at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad on Tuesday, October 10.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first in the match. The decision proved to be terrific for the side as three of the top four batters shined in the innings.

Pathum Nissanka hit a terrific half-century while Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama smashed sensational centuries. Sri Lanka were off to a poor start in the match as opener Kusal Perera was dismissed in the second over for a duck. However, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis stabilized the innings with their 102-run partnership in just 95 balls.

Kusal Mendis was the aggressor as he smashed the Pakistan all over the park and looked dominant. After Pathum Nissanka got out, Sadeera Samarawickrama joined Mendis in the middle and they took the attack to the bowlers and gave them a hard time.

The duo stitched together 111 runs in just 69 balls to frustrate the Men In Green. The wicketkeeper-batter Mendis got out after smashing the fastest century for Sri Lanka in the history of the World Cup. He scored 122 runs off 77 balls, with 14 fours and 6 sixes.

After Mendis got out, Sadeera Samarawickrama had to take responsibility and take Sri Lanka to a huge total. The 28-year-old batsman didn’t disappoint as he played a responsible knock and hit his maiden ODI century. Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 108 runs off 89 balls, including 11 fours and 2 sixes. Other batters also chipped in and Sri Lanka posted 344/9 on the board.

Chasing a target in the match, Pakistan were off to a poor start as Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam got out for low scores. However, Mohammad Rizwan showed great temperament and built a terrific 176-run partnership with Abdullah Shafique to push the Lankan Team on the back foot.

Mohammad Rizwan’s stay in the middle was not an easy one as he suffered cramps and was finding it hard to bat. After losing Abdullah Shafique he built a great partnership with Saud Shakeel. The duo added 95 runs in 68 balls.

In the end, Rizwan remained unbeaten and smashed 131 runs off 121 balls, with 8 fours and 3 sixes, to take his side past the finish line alongside Iftikhar Ahmed. Also, this was the highest target successfully chased in World Cup history.

Here’s How Twitter Reacted To Pakistan’s Win:

Till now #CWC2023 is going as expected no surprises till yet.@TheRealPCBMedia have chase down a historic target.@iMRizwanPak & @imabd28 have done things easy for them.#PAKvSL #WorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/OQ8fcYBexF

— Munaf Patel (@munafpa99881129) October 10, 2023

A resounding victory for Pakistan!! Just the confidence boost they needed! Those extra runs proved costly for Sti Lanka. #CWC23 #PAKvSL

— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) October 10, 2023

Padosiyo, abhi TV nai todne! 14th ka wait karo 🔥🔥🔥 #CWC23 #WorldCup2023

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) October 10, 2023

Pakistan chased down the highest total in the history of the CWC, @iMRizwanPak & @imabd28 were sensational with the bat. You can’t write off Pakistan in World Cups.
Congratulations Boys on a Historic Victory. 🇵🇰👏#PAKvsSL

— Saeed Anwar (@ImSaeedAnwar) October 10, 2023

Alhamdulillah, congratulations to all 🇵🇰 🤲🏼

Not sure about you but I was nervous watching 😅

Mohammad Rizwan & Abdullah Shafique were incredible from start to finish 👏🏼

Brilliant performance from the team. Keep going boys, keep breaking records!

Pakistan Zindabad ❤️

— Naseem Shah (@iNaseemShah) October 10, 2023

Seriously impressive win. And what will please Pakistan is there’s still a lot of room for improvement.

Now on to the one they never seem to win. #PAKvsSL

— Danyal Rasool (@Danny61000) October 10, 2023

Pakistan 🇵🇰 chased down the highest successful score in World Cup history🔥 Congratulations!! Delightful batting by @iMRizwanPak and @imabd28 . Spectacular spell of 4 wickets by @RealHa55an 👏🏼❤️ Well done Boyss!!Good Luck for the next one.#PAKvSL #WorldCup #pakistanzindabad… pic.twitter.com/5aKXaPwgFW

— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) October 10, 2023

He was hit, he was down, he was in pain but nothing stopped..!!!!

The fighter, The crisis man, He is Mohammed Rizwan. pic.twitter.com/nwg8oyAC8b

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 10, 2023

PAKISTAN CHASE DOWN 345. 💥

Highest successful run chase in the history of World Cup and Pakistan’s highest successful run chase in World Cup history. 🤯

Total showdown from Abdullah Shafique and from Rizwan the warrior. 💯#CWC23 #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/cTsBykEPTF

— Saif Ahmed 🇧🇩 (@saifahmed75) October 10, 2023

TAKE A BOW, MOHAMMAD RIZWAN…!!!

He came when Pakistan was 37/2 and he was Injured and he was in pain and he scored unbeatan 134* runs from 121 balls in biggest ever run chase in history of World Cups – INCREDIBLE, RIZWAN. pic.twitter.com/ARslGabZSi

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) October 10, 2023

Rizwan is the real match winner for Pakistan. Never gives up. Innovates. Backs his strength – the sweep shot.
What a set up now the #INDvPAK will be. #PAKvSL #ICCCricketWorldCup23

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 10, 2023

Well played Pakistan, great run chase.. hard luck Sri Lanka, we could have rested Matheesha Pathirana & played Lahiru Kumara in this game. #PAKvSL #CWC2023

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) October 10, 2023

Talk about winning in style, Alhumdullilah what a win @TheRealPCB . More to come InshAllah! #PakistanZindabad

— Rumman Raees (@rummanraees15) October 10, 2023

Indian top order collapse against Australia and Pakistan’s middle order batting like that makes me really nervous for Saturday although we look better on paper. #PAKvsSL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) October 10, 2023

Class bro @imabd28 👏👏👏👏 https://t.co/mce9JKPCKk

— Abid Ali (@AbidAli_Real) October 10, 2023

Congratulations team Pakistan winning in style 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Highest successful run chase in the history of World Cup matches. @iMRizwanPak played a master class innings of 💯 along with young emerging star @imabd28 💯 👏🏼👏🏼😍. Take a bow. Well bowled @RealHa55an 👍🏼 #PAKvSL #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/1ZkNMvkdyM

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 10, 2023

Didn’t think Kusal Mendis’s brilliant century could be upstaged. Rizwan did that with gumption, creativity and fine reading of match situation. He’s done this twice in a row to keep Pak’s record in this WC unblemished yet. Sri Lanka had their moments but let down by weak bowling.

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 10, 2023

آج تک ہم ورلڈ کپ میں سری لنکا کے خلاف میچ نہیں ہارے تو آج کیسے ہوسکتا ہے کہ ہم ہار جاتے…
Kaptaan #BabarAzam𓃵 ki team hai koi mazaq thori#PakistanCricket #WorldCup2023 #PAKvSL

— Qadir Khawaja (@iamqadirkhawaja) October 10, 2023

History created in Hyderabad ✨

Pakistan becomes the first team in world cup history to successfully chase the target target of 345 Masha’Allah 👏

Brilliant performances by Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafiq and Hassan Ali 🏏

The Nation is Proud 🇵🇰

Masha’Allah#WorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/5OHGFtXGS5

— Shahzaib Ali 🇵🇰 (@DSBcricket) October 10, 2023

Indian top order collapse against Australia and Pakistan’s middle order batting like that makes me really nervous for Saturday although we look better on paper. #PAKvsSL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) October 10, 2023