Azharuddin Celebrates Sri Lanka's Historic ODI Chase Against England

Telangana Minister Mohammad Azharuddin has lauded Sri Lanka's extraordinary achievement in chasing down a target of 430 runs against England in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026. He emphasized the significance of such high-scoring matches and the need to promote Test cricket. Reflecting on historic run chases, Azharuddin recalled South Africa's famous pursuit in 2006. The match saw England's Harry Brook score a record-breaking double century, but Sri Lanka's remarkable batting performance led them to a historic victory. Discover more about this thrilling encounter and Azharuddin's insights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 23, 2026, 14:24 IST

Azharuddin Commends Sri Lanka's Remarkable Victory

On Friday, Telangana's Cabinet Minister and former Indian cricket star Mohammad Azharuddin expressed admiration for Sri Lanka's incredible achievement in chasing down a target of 400 runs against England. He described such a feat as 'almost unbelievable' in today's cricket landscape. Azharuddin also praised England's Harry Brook for his impressive double century and highlighted the importance of supporting Test cricket.

Reflecting on Historic Run Chases

In discussing the significance of Sri Lanka's accomplishment, Azharuddin recalled South Africa's famous chase against Australia in 2006, noting that such high-scoring pursuits are quite rare in ODI cricket. 'Chasing 400 runs is only the second instance of its kind,' he remarked, emphasizing that these thrilling matches are beneficial for the sport and its fans.

Advocating for Test Cricket

Azharuddin underscored the need to promote Test cricket, asserting that it remains the core format of the game. 'While aggressive batting and high-scoring matches are becoming more frequent, we must continue to support Test cricket,' he stated. He also congratulated the Indian team for their recent victory against New Zealand in the first T20I, expressing optimism for their success in both the T20 and ODI series.

Match Overview

In a thrilling encounter during the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026, Sri Lanka achieved a stunning victory over England, successfully chasing down a daunting target of 430 runs. England had set a formidable score of 429/4, bolstered by Brook's record-setting double century. This win marked Sri Lanka's place in history as they completed the second-highest successful run chase in ODI cricket.

The record for the highest chase remains with South Africa, who chased down 435 runs against Australia in 2006. Despite Brook's remarkable innings, which made him the first English player to score a double century in men's ODIs, Sri Lanka's batting prowess shone through.

Brook's innings of 202 runs off 116 balls included 21 fours and 10 sixes, while Joe Root contributed 69 runs. Sri Lanka's chase began with early setbacks, losing two wickets quickly. However, Avishka Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake formed a crucial partnership, with Fernando scoring 97 and Rathnayake hitting 130 runs. Dasun Shanaka's explosive 97 off 50 balls, along with Janith Liyanage's unbeaten half-century, propelled Sri Lanka to a memorable victory.