Pakistan wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan hit an unbeaten 131 to guide his country to the highest ever successful Cricket World Cup run chase ©Getty Images

Pakistan wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan overcame severe bouts of cramp to hit an unbeaten century as the nation pulled off the highest ever successful Cricket World Cup run chase.

Rizwan’s 131 not out gave Pakistan their second successive win at the International Cricket Council Men’s Cricket World Cup as they chased down 344 to beat Sri Lanka with ten balls to spare at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at Hyderabad in India.

Sri Lanka had earlier made 344 for nine off their 50 overs after electing to bat first, with their keeper Kusal Mendis making 122 off 79 balls and Sadeera Samarawickrama scoring 108 off 89 deliveries.

Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka scored 51, with Hasan Ali taking four wickets for Pakistan.

Faced with a formidable total, Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique scored 113, while Rizwan made an unbeaten 131, as the pair put on a partnership of 176 for the third wicket.

Despite Rizwan’s struggles in running between the wickets and appearing to be in pain when hitting the ball due to cramp, Pakistan paced the historic run chase perfectly, completing victory by six wickets in the penultimate over.

England defeated Bangladesh by 137 runs at the picturesque ground in Dharamsala, located in the foothills of the Himalayas ©Getty Images
England defeated Bangladesh by 137 runs at the picturesque ground in Dharamsala, located in the foothills of the Himalayas ©Getty Images

In the day’s other game, defending champions England secured their first win of the tournament as they defeated Bangladesh by 137 runs at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

After being put in to bat, England put on two big partnerships for the first two wickets to take the game away from their lower-ranked opponents.

Dawid Malan top scored with 140 runs, putting on 115 for the first wicket with Jonny Bairstow, who made 52 and 151 for the second wicket with Joe Root, who scored 82 in his innings.

Despite losing wickets with more regularity in the latter part of the innings, England finished with a score of 364 for nine off their 50 overs.

Bangladesh opener Liton Das scored 76 to give his side a respectable total of 227 all out, with Reece Topley doing the damage with the ball as he took four wickets, including three in the opening powerplay period of ten overs.

Following today’s results, Pakistan move second in the points table with four, level with New Zealand at the top.

One match is scheduled tomorrow, with hosts India taking on Afghanistan in Delhi.