Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Super 4, 5th Match - Shot of the Day

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are locking horns in the fifth Super 4 fixture of Asia Cup 2023 on Thursday, September 14 at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the decision didn’t prove to be right as his side was left reeling at 130/5 after 27.4 overs when rain interrupted the first innings.

When the play resumed the match was shortened to 42-over per side and Mohammad Rizwan, who was out in the middle with Iftikhar Ahmed, decided to get a move on. The wicketkeeper-batter played a scintillating pull shot on the first ball of the 33^rd over by Pramod Madushan to leave the fans stunned.

As soon as the ball left Madushan’s hand, Rizwan got into position quickly and whacked it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. The connection of the shot was so sweet that the sound of the bat hitting the ball echoed throughout the stadium bringing the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Watch the shot here:

Rizwan and Iftikhar add 108 runs for sixth wicket

Rizwan and Ahmed got involved in a massive 108-run stand off 78 balls and took Pakistan’s total past 230. Ahmed got dismissed for a well-made 47 off 40 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes. However, Rizwan continued his innings at the other end and played a magnificent innings of 86* off 73 balls smashing six fours and two sixes. Courtesy of their valuable contributions, Pakistan managed to post a good total of 252/7 in their allotted 42 overs.

Earlier in the game, Abdullah Shafique scored a sublime fifty (52 off 69) after losing his opening partner Fakhar Zaman (4 off 11) early in the innings. Matheesha Pathirana finished as the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka registering figures of 3/65 in eight overs while Pramod Madushan (2/58, 7 overs) also picked up two wickets. Dunith Wellalage bowled an economical spell of 1/40 in nine overs and got the prized scalp of Babar Azam (29 off 35).