Srinagar, Oct 11(KNS): Sri Lanka were served a harsh lesson in the realities of modern ODI cricket, as Pakistan hunted down a target of 345 - the highest-ever chase in a World Cup - with six wickets to spare. Leading their charge were tons from Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan, which trumped a pair of centuries by Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, to make it two wins from two for Pakistan.
Rizwan, who suffered from at times seemingly debilitating cramps - the physio came and looked at him twice - for the last 15 overs or so of the chase, remained unbeaten in the end on a 121-ball 131. Together with Shafique - who himself recorded the highest score by a Pakistan debutant at a World Cup with his 113 off 103 - he had put together a third-wicket stand worth 176 off just 156 deliveries.
It was a stand that would break the spine of the chase, though even then it might not have been enough had Rizwan himself not valiantly stuck around till the end. He would put on a further 95 off 68 with Saud Shakeel, and then 37 off 23 with Iftikhar Ahmed, as Pakistan eventually cantered home to a win that will provide them an immense confidence boost ahead of Saturday's massive clash against India.
As for Sri Lanka, it's two defeats in as many games, and after conceding over 750 runs across two matches there will be growing concerns over their bowlers' abilities in handling such batter-friendly tracks.(KNS).