'We're 20-25 runs short on this wicket': Shanaka on Pakistan defeat

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka's ICC World Cup campaign faced its second defeat, and captain

Dasun Shanaka

acknowledged that his team fell short by 20-25 runs with their batting performance. Pakistan achieved the highest run chase in World Cup history, securing a 6-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday, fueled by centuries from Abdullah Shafique and

Mohammed Rizwan

.
Sri Lanka's

Kusal Mendis

(122) and

Sadeera Samarawickrama

(108) played remarkable innings that posed significant challenges for the Pakistan bowlers.
"Mendis is in form at the moment and is in the zone. Also, Sadeera has been playing very well recently, but we should've finished stronger in the end. Of course, I thought with the way the wicket behaved, we were 20-25 runs short," said Dasun Shanaka during a post-match press conference.

Shanaka praised Pakistan's bowlers for their "very good slower balls" and expressed his concern about Sri Lanka's excessive extras. "Credit to them, they (Pakistan) bowled very good slower balls. I can't ask too much from the bowlers. I have given simple plans and coaching staff as well, but we gave too much extras. The only way is to encourage them. Unfortunately, we missed our chances," he added.
In this high-scoring thriller, Rizwan played a remarkable unbeaten innings of 131 runs off 121 balls, while Abdullah Shafique contributed with a powerful 113.

A fiery cameo from

Iftikhar Ahmed

helped Pakistan successfully chase down the target of 344 with 10 balls to spare. This match marked a historic moment in men's World Cup history, as it witnessed four centuries in a single game, with Pakistan emerging victorious in this thrilling run-fest.
(With ANI inputs)