Watch: Sadeera Samarawickrama crunched a huge six off Mohammad Nawaz, on his way to a glorious maiden ODI hundred in Sri Lanka’s second match of the 2023 World Cup against Pakistan today (October 10).

Samarawickrama was closing in on three figures in the 44th over of Sri Lanka’s innings, having earlier reached his fifty off 46 balls. Put on strike for the third ball of Nawaz’s ninth over, he moved into the nineties with a thumping blow into the off-side.

Nawaz dropped in a floated delivery which Samarawickrama skipped down the pitch to meet. He backed away with his back leg bent and head over the ball to hammer the ball over cover and well over the boundary rope for six. The inside-out maximum prompted the commentary team to label it “shot of the day”.

That shot took Samarawickrama to 93, before he reached his maiden ODI century two overs later with a single off Hassan Ali. His hundred came off 82 balls and took Sri Lanka well past 300, eventually setting Pakistan 345 to win. Samarawickrama was out in the 48th over for 108 off 89 balls, caught behind attempting a reverse-pull shot off Hassan.

Earlier in the match, Kusal Mendis hit the fastest-ever century for Sri Lanka at men’s ODI World Cups, and the sixth fastest overall. He reached three figures off 65 balls, hitting 14 fours and six sixes in his innings. Sri Lanka are looking to get their World Cup campaign up and running after they lost to South Africa in their opening match of the tournament, conceding the highest-ever score in a men’s ODI World Cup.

Watch: Sadeera Samarawickrama hits thunderous inside-out six off Mohammad Nawaz

 

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