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The eighth match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between Pakistan and Sri Lanka turned out to be a nail-biting blockbuster, treating cricket fans to an electrifying contest.
Run-fest at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium
The match took place at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, providing the perfect stage for a run-fest. Both teams displayed their batting prowess, accumulating nearly 350 runs in a high-scoring showdown.
Sri Lankan batters, led by Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, were the standout performers. They played scintillating innings, each scoring centuries, and helped their team reach a competitive total of 344/9.
Historic chase by Pakistan
In response to the challenging target set by Sri Lanka, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan side executed the biggest chase in the history of the ICC ODI World Cup. Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan both achieved centuries, steering their team to a thrilling victory.
Chant of ‘Pakistan Jeetega’ rocks the stadium
Throughout the match, the Pakistan team enjoyed massive support from the Hyderabad crowd. The team had been in the city since their arrival on September 27, and the local crowd showed immense enthusiasm for Babar Azam and his teammates.
A video has gone viral on social media, capturing the incredible moment when the Hyderabad crowd enthusiastically chanted ‘Pakistan Jeetega’ (Pakistan will win) in unison. The stadium DJ had asked the crowd who they thought would win, and the response was a resounding show of support for Pakistan.
Also READ: “Kya phainta lagaya” – Virender Sehwag lauds Pakistan for their record-breaking win against Sri Lanka in CWC 2023
Here is the video:
"JEETEGA BHAI JEETEGA, PAKISTAN JEETEGA" CHANTS IN INDIA, HYDERABADY WAALUN YOU HAVE OUR RESPECT!❤️#PAKvSL #PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/ZiTrDjLHlb
— RJ Umar Tweets (@rjumarishaq) October 10, 2023
Babar Azam’s heartwarming gesture
Notably, Babar and his team have established a friendly rapport with the local community, including the ground staff. In a heartwarming gesture, the Pakistan skipper was seen gifting a jersey to a member of the groundstaff, exemplifying the camaraderie between the Pakistan team and the people of Hyderabad.